Examines how political fragmentation impacts development outcomes in primary agricultural cooperative societies, suggesting significant local electoral influences.
Key Points
This research aims to explore the relationship between political fragmentation and the effectiveness of agricultural cooperatives in rural Hooghly.
Field survey of 200 members from Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS)
Analysis of electoral data from the 2023 panchayat elections
Qualitative interviews with PACS members
Political fragmentation increases accountability pressures on PACS management
Higher service satisfaction reported in politically competitive blocks
Increased clientelism and political interference noted in cooperative governance