"The voter thinks that the State is not going to impartially deliver services, provide justice, basic law and order, social insurance -- so as a voter it's very rational that I may choose a criminal who will help me navigate the State. A weak State allows a criminal politician to be the person who provides that guarantee to mediate whatever problem the citizen has with the State."

Milan Vaishnav, Senior Fellow at the Washington, DC-based global think- tank, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, explores the nexus between crime, democracy and the marketplace for criminals in his first book, When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics. He speaks to Archana Masih/Rediff.com. Do read.


Image: RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin who has been convicted for a variety of crimes, including murder.