Political rivalries and public divisions: How partisan conflict shapes public opinion and democracy.
Political Rivalries and Public Divisions: Are We Fighting the Wrong Battle? In today’s India, political rivalry is no longer confined to election rallies or parliamentary debates. It has entered our streets. It has entered our neighborhoods. It has entered our daily conversations. Neighbors who once shared tea now avoid each other because of political differences. Friends turn into opponents over a single social media post. Online discussions quickly turn into hostility. But here is the question that should make us uncomfortable: While we are fighting each other… who is truly being held accountable? From Political Difference to Personal Enemy Disagreement is normal in a democracy. It is healthy. It allows ideas to compete. But today, disagreement often becomes personal. If someone questions a policy, they are labeled as anti-national. If someone supports a reform, they are called blind followers. Instead of discussing unemployment, inflation, healthcare, education, or public safe...
