Varun Gandhi deplores expensive elections

Hyderabad: Lok Sabha Member Varun Gandhi, while delivering a guest lecture to students at the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) here on Friday, focused on the excessive influence of wealth on our electoral system.

He gave several examples to demonstrate how it has become virtually impossible for people from poor and middle-class background to contest elections for Parliament and State Legislatures. He reflected on how serving legislators often acted according to their narrow self-interest.

He pointed out how they repeatedly increased their own salaries while not addressing the plight of vulnerable groups such as farmers affected by droughts and employees facing job-losses. The MP made some constructive suggestions. Gandhi also talked about some of his personal experiences.

He is frank enough to openly acknowledgethat his surname had made it possible for him to gain a foothold in politics. He said structural changes are needed to ensure that young individuals from different social and economic backgrounds are able to effectively participate in public affairs. He also spoke about the need for inclusive politics.