By contrast, China drew the opposite political conclusion from the collapse of the Soviet Union: political reform in a Marxist-Leninist system imperils the party's survival.

ECONOMIST: Can China change?

Some political parties such as the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam are still against the bill, though the government could get it easily passed with support from the BJP.

WSJ: Land Bill Likely to Get Parliament Nod

His party, the United Marxist-Leninists, occupies the same political ground as the Maoists: pro-peasant, anti-big business, committed to land reform and ending poverty.

ECONOMIST: A general election is called