[12] The UPA subsequently governed India from 2004 until 2014 for two terms before losing power to their main rivals, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
The UPA used to rule seven States and union territories of India before it was dissolved to form the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance on 18 July 2023 ahead of the 2024 general election.
An informal alliance had existed prior to the elections as several of the constituent parties had developed seat-sharing agreements in many states.
The UPA government's policies were initially guided by a common minimum programme that the alliance hammered out with consultations with Jyoti Basu and Harkishan Singh Surjeet of the 59-member Left Front.
[19] On 22 July 2008, the UPA survived a vote of confidence in the parliament brought on by the Left Front withdrawing their support in protest at the India–United States Civil Nuclear Agreement.
Electoral mandates Time in office Mohammad Hamid Ansari (2007–12) The winter session of parliament in October 2008 came under intense criticism from the Left parties and the BJP to demand a full-fledged winter session instead of what was seen as the UPA to having "scuttled the voice of Parliament" by bringing down the sittings to a record low of 30 days in the year.
[31] During the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, when 10 Pakistani terrorists from the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba under the support from Pakistan Army and ISI, came from the sea route and seized the city from 26 to 29 November 2008, the UPA Government faced immense criticism from citizens and leaders of opposition for intelligence failures as well as not being able to provide quick transportation for NSG commandos, who neutralized 8 of the 10 terrorists at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the Oberoi Trident hotel, and the Chabad House.
[32][33] Furthermore, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, faced denunciation for launching a book which mentioned that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was somehow linked to the attack, despite credible evidence and confessions from Ajmal Kasab, the only gunman who was captured by Mumbai Police; Singh was also publicly criticized for coining the terms Hindu Terror and Saffron Terror.
[40] His comments were slammed from some quarters of the Indian political spectrum, who criticised him for equating the Mumbai attacks with those in Afghanistan and called it an insult to those killed in the blasts.
[41][42] The ineptness towards national security, the insensitive statements made by Congress leadership following the terror attack, and the inaction against Pakistan sponsored terrorist groups was one of the few factors that led to the UPA suffering a major defeat in the 2014 General elections.
Apart from the above-mentioned scams, the UPA has been under intense fire for the alleged doles handed out to the son-in-law of the Gandhi family, Robert Vadra, by UPA-run state governments.
Additionally, the UPA faced serious criticism on mishandling the national carrier Air India, which led to its financial crisis in 2006–07, before being sold to the Tata group in 2022.
[48] The UPA was also slammed for inaction against political leaders such as Digvijaya Singh and Mulayam Singh Yadav for their comments which promoted misogyny and anti-women views, as well as insensitivity towards rape victims; Yadav was previously condemned for opposing the Women's Reservation Bill in March 2010 and warning to withdraw from the alliance, making a sexist comment that "if the bill is passed it will fill Parliament with the kind of women who invite catcalls and whistles".
[52] In addition, the UPA faced immense criticism for the formation of the WAQF Board to appease the Muslim community, which has been responsible for land grabbing and forcible acquisition of properties nationwide, while evicting the original owners who possessed legal documents of ownership.
[53] The UPA, in its opposition, faced immense criticism by the NDA Government for banking frauds, mostly by giving unsecured loans to fugitive businessmen Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi during the tenure of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.