If government employees can get a rise in their dearness allowance (DA) to compensate for high inflation, and those working for private firms can get hefty hikes, there’s no reason why politicians shouldn’t. So, comrades of the CPI(M) have also got a pay rise, except, in their case, the monthly hike ranges from just Rs 200 to Rs 500. The increments, like those in the private sector, are based on seniority and location, but there’s a difference — if any of the comrades has an earning spouse, the hike is lower.