POLITICAL FRAGMENTATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES (PACS): A STUDY OF ELECTORAL DYNAMICS IN HOOGHLY, WEST BENGAL
Political Fragmentation, Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), Panchayat Elections, Electoral Dynamics, West Bengal, Rural Development
This study examines the relationship between political fragmentation and the developmental effectiveness of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in Hooghly district, West Bengal. Against the backdrop of evolving electoral dynamics—where the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) maintains dominance while opposition parties (BJP, Left Front) have expanded their electoral space—this research investigates how political competition and fragmentation influence PACS functioning, resource distribution, and member welfare. Drawing from a field survey of 200 PACS members across Hooghly's rural blocks, supplemented by electoral data analysis and qualitative interviews, the study finds that political fragmentation has a paradoxical effect: while it increases accountability pressures on PACS management, it also intensifies clientelistic distribution and political interference in cooperative governance. The 2023 panchayat elections in Hooghly revealed significant opposition gains, particularly for the CPI(M) in blocks like Jangipara and Nabagram, creating a more competitive political environment. Survey results indicate that PACS members in politically competitive blocks report higher service satisfaction but also greater experiences of political conditionality in accessing cooperative benefits. The study contributes to understanding how local electoral dynamics shape rural institutional performance in developing economies.
: https://doi.org/10.56975/ijvra.v4i3.702818
Registration ID: IJVRA_702818 Published ID: IJVRA26A3030
"POLITICAL FRAGMENTATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES (PACS): A STUDY OF ELECTORAL DYNAMICS IN HOOGHLY, WEST BENGAL", IJVRA - International Journal of Versatile Research and Analysis (www.IJVRA.org), ISSN:2984-8903, Vol.4, Issue 3, page no.895-908, March-2026, Available :https://ijpub.org/ijvra/papers/IJVRA26A3030.pdf
Paper Reg. ID: IJVRA_702818
Published Paper Id: IJVRA26A3030
Research Area: Social Science All
Country: Kolkata, West Bengal, India
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56975/ijvra.v4i3.702818
ISSN: 2984-8903 | IMPACT FACTOR: 9.12 Calculated By Google Scholar | ESTD YEAR: 2023
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