We would urge VS though to remember people, even Kerala’s people, have an odd habit of responding to economic incentives and disincentives. The fine theory behind the bill is that ration shops will come up instead of retail stores and people will be delighted. We fear Kerala’s consumers may decide that shopping in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, which shockingly has no bar on big retail stores, may be a profitable activity. Profitable both as a consumer as well as an arbitrager. Since it is typical of “anti-people” big retail stores to offer lower prices, Keralites may spot an opportunity for some inter-state informal trade. When Haryana became a model pro-people state and imposed prohibition, its people had displayed a similar disappointing liking for profit-making opportunities and regular runs to and from Delhi were made. State border control was of course happy, as it will be in Kerala. Who’s a capitalist subverter, they will ask in Kerala. Answer: Anyone in possession of a kilo pack of branded refined rice.

There are four more years of this government in Kerala and so many business activities still not banned. Of course, the need to ban some of them doesn’t arise because Kerala’s governments, even Congress ones run by A.K. Antony, have ensured investors understand the state is too special to be spoilt by things like job creation opportunities and new industry. The ruling party incidentally is fairly active commercially. But that’s different, of course. So, and VS should consider this seriously, what about a Left-backed big retail chain?