Letter.

Letter Published innThe National UAE on 19 April 24 I write in reference to Taniya Dutta's article India's election watchdog seizes record $557m of alleged illicit cash ahead of polls (April 15): political corruption, especially come election time, is one of the biggest problems facing the country right now. It is an important issue that demands public attention, but it is often overlooked because ordinary people just shrug and move on. There is plenty of analysis in print, online and television media that is focused on political strategies and vote banks. But so little, in comparison, is written about the open secret that a number of political parties offer inducements to the poor to vote for their candidates in exchange for cash or/and refreshments. Such corruption can make all the difference between a well-meaning man or woman being elected to office and losing an election. K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India