Why they don't like it
Institutions in India have taken a severe battering over the years. Only a handful have survived. The Election Commission is one of them. But political parties seem to want it to be associated only with the polling bandobast, not with what will make the polling fair.

Roars in Tiger country
When the Mulayam Singh Yadav-Laloo Prasad Yadav duo chose to roar like tigers in Mumbai's Shivaji Park -- Bal Thackeray's backyard -- during the sankalp rally organised by the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha on Sunday, they did so with a purpose. It was an attempt to needle the strife-riven Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government in Maharashtra and hit it where it hurts most.

Clutching at straws
A trend new to India is making its appearance: hard-pressed companies trying to limit work to a few days in a week as a cost-cutting measure. Close on the heels of a similar move by Ashok Leyland, Air India has offered the option of a three-day work week to its employees.

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