Factional Politics in Rural India

Factional politics, undoubtedly, constitutes a very significant area as well as a pervasive theme in contemporary social science. Factionalism, a growing phenomenon in Indian governments and politics, has not only, of late, assumed new dimensions but also infected almost all organizations including political parties, interest group, pressure groups, trade unions, voluntary association etc. It is quite disheartening and distressing to observe that even village community and its government and politics are largely as well as deeply affected and afflicted by this all- pervading evil that has spread its tentacles to eat away the very vitals of the Indian rural society. It has assumed so much of importance and significance that it has attracted the attention of social scientists, policy- Makers and administrators. As has been rightly said India lives in villages. But, unfortunately, the rural India, which is visualized under the deceptive and surface appearance of calm and harmony, has in fact, become a centre of conflict and confrontation, clash and hostility. It is very sad to note that the old and long-cherished values of rural India have been rapidly declining and are on their wane. Village life has lost its charm and simplicity, sanctity and serenity, peace and tranquility. Virtues like love, sympathy, fellow-feeling, co-operation kindness, sacrifice etc. are hardly found among, the rural people. The village atmosphere is now polluted and vitiated. Guided by instinct and passion and devoid of reason and conscience, people and their leaders have become self-centred, narrow-minded, as they are more interested in their personal development than in the developmental activities of their village .As a result the interests of the village are neglected and ignored. At present the village life is characterized by conflict and confrontation but not by co-operation and co-existence. The rural society is now a faction-ridden one. Factors like caste, community, language, religion, socio-economic change, personal considerations, desire for status, lust for power, greed for wealth etc. foment the passion of the man and give rise to factionalism.