Alternative Politics and the Space It Deserves

In recent years, India’s democratic discourse has been marked by a widening divide between conventional political parties and emerging alternative formations. The proposition that alternative politics deserves meaningful space and that mainstream politics must consciously ensure such space merits a balanced and critical inquiry. At the heart of this argument is a structural concern: conventional politics in India, driven largely by power accumulation, often sidelines the everyday issues of ordinary citizens. The question is whether alternative politics, grounded in participatory processes and decentralised mobilisation, can enrich Indian democracy without direct confrontation with established political forces.

The Argument for Greater Democratic Pluralism

Political theorist Rajni Kothari