“This (merger of private interests and public policy) is a very serious matter for all those who are concerned about democracy. If public policy is to be determined in the interest of private lobbies... then it will be a total perversion of democracy,” Karat told reporters here.

The CPI(M) leader referring to the recent crisis in Karnataka said the way in which the BJP “promoted this nexus between big businesses and politics” has made them the victims now.

The political crisis in Karnataka was the direct outcome of their (BJP) allowing business and mining lobbies to dictate terms, he said.

“Earlier they (mining lobby) pressurised the Karnataka government from outside and now they are inside the government and want to have more say in it,” Karat said, adding such type of politics is spreading to Andhra Pradesh also, but refrained from elaborating on it.