Whats the way ahead then… electoral reforms?
How the Left parties have ‘managed themselves’ is an interesting model. They are largely out of the clutches of corporates but at the same time have amassed huge properties and so on. By any standard, they can’t be called poor Marxists and may be called enriched, empowered Marxists. Even their workers are paid full-time salaries. Some businessmen off-the-record claim ‘Small parties have to be paid more, and larger parties are easier to handle’ … These industrialists are also like weathercock. If I am nice to them—as I have been to many of them as part of ruling coalition at the Centre or in UP—and help them on the basis of merit, they say a big ‘thank you’ with a grin. Though he was willing to give “X” amount of money during that crucial point of time when you were taking the decision, but you didn’t want to be seen as a quid pro quo person and on the basis of merit. Then they say there is a ‘foolish, nice gentleman’ who did not expect anything from us, and we have saved the money we h
