Capitalism, CPI (M) style

Corporate rivals routinely outbid each other for buyout targets. But in Kerala, it was one political party that neatly outwitted the other in such a deal. The winner was the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI (M) in Kerala, which is known for running entertainment channels and a water theme park. The Congress in Kerala wanted to buy the Chirakkal Rajas Higher Secondary School owned by a royal family in order to create a K Karunakaran Memorial Charitable Trust. It was the school in which the late chief minister had studied. Interestingly, though, the CPI (M), through its co-operative society, outbid the Congress proposal and bought the school for Rs 16 crore.