Rivalries and enmities between political leaders are proving to be a curse for the common people. It has become a normal practice for any political party in power to make life miserable for opposition party leaders and activists through various means. It is the grass-root level activists and supporters of political parties who are bearing the brunt of this politics of vendetta. Filing cases against one another and resultant expenses are burdening them financially and socially.
Villages turn battlefields
The rising political heat and rivalries are turning villages into battle fields. People are in the grip of fear as political rivalries are fueling old enmities. In Rayalaseema districts, factionism which all but disappeared in the last decade is raising its ugly head again. Old rivalries are being stoked by political differences. Situation in many villages in Chittoor, Kurnool and Anantapur districts is tense. Violence and clashes are breaking out daily. Conditions in Palnadu in Guntur district and Prakasam are no different. Rival groups in the villages have been fighting it out in the open and individuals are getting hospitalized, forgoing livelihood activities, suffering financial loss and entangling themselves in cases. As families land in misery and poverty because of legal costs, debts and loss of livelihoods, political leaders who instigate leave them in the lurch.
Fight for dominance
While there are old enmities in villages, it is the fight for dominance among leaders that is vitiating atmosphere in cities and towns resulting in attacks and police cases. Leaders are benefiting from this situation by conducting settlements or supporting one group against another. Police say many such incidents have taken place in recent months.
But compared with villages, rivalries and violence are less in urban areas. Since settlements are done in cities and towns by individuals rather than politicians, police have more leverage to handle the situation than in rural areas. However, there are allegations that excessive police interference in individual disputes and they favoring one side is causing concern among people in urban areas.
