Why are people afraid of factionalism at the village level when all the political parties and organisations or even my class has factions? Are groups and factions always so bad?
People are afraid of factionalism at the village level because leaders like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar believed that the faction and caste-ridden nature of rural society would defeat the noble purpose of local government at the rural level. There was also concern that extreme localism could be a threat to the unity and integration of the nation.
However, groups and factions are not always bad. Tension and struggle are not always harmful. Whenever there is an attempt to make democracy more meaningful and give power to those who did not enjoy it earlier, some conflict and tension in society is bound to occur. This happens because dominant social groups which controlled the village earlier do not wish to give up their power, leading to an intensification of struggle for power.
Explanation
The answer draws from the textbook context which explains both the concerns about factionalism (Dr. Ambedkar's view about caste-ridden rural society defeating local government's purpose) and the positive aspect that tension and struggle can be beneficial for deepening democracy and empowering marginalized groups.