United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is the name of the present ruling coalition of political parties of the Government of India. The UPA was formed soon after the 2004 general elections to the Lok Sabha, determining the composition of the 14th Lok Sabha. An informal alliance had existed prior to the elections as several of the current constituent parties had developed seat-sharing agreements in many states. However it was only after the election results were announced and it became evident that the rival BJP led coalition was not in a position to head the government that the alliance started taking shape. Initially, the proposed name for the alliance was the Secular Progressive Alliance.
The UPA's policies are defined through a common minimum programme and the alliance is generally perceived as a center-left coalition dominated by the Indian National Congress whose president Sonia Gandhi is its chairperson.
In the state of Jharkhand, the constituents of the UPA are by mutual agreement supporting the government led by an independent politician, Madhu Koda.
