The social coalition that benefited from India's central government's economic policies remained unchanged between the pre- and post-economic reforms periods. The economic policies promoted by the central government between 1980 and 2004 - irrespective of the political party heading the Cabinet - mostly benefited the middle class and the corporate sector, while the poor and the rural world were clearly relegated to a secondary position in the governments' policy priorities. From this point of view the election of the United Progressive Alliance government in 2004 might constitute a more important break with the past.
