UPA: United Progressive Alliance

The full form of UPA is United Progressive Alliance. UPA is a coalition of left and centre-left political parties in India formed post the 2004 general elections when it had become clear that no party had won an absolute majority. Until then the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had won 181 seats in the 543-member 14th Lok Sabha, as opposed the UPA’s tally of 218 seats. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi opted not to take the premiership and instead recommended Manmohan Singh, a Sikh, for the post.

The Congress made significant gains in the 2009 parliamentary elections, increasing its seat total in the Lok Sabha to 206; conversely, the BJP’s total fell to 116. Singh formed another UPA coalition cabinet and was sworn in for a second term, becoming the first prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to do so after having served a full five-year first term. However the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) lost major popularity in the 2014 General Elections after many elected representatives of the UPA were accused in various scams and scandals.

Other full forms of UPA