The editorial discusses the exploding trend of "media coverage packages" during the recent Maharashtra state assembly elections, where many media outlets sold coverage and positive publicity to candidates in exchange for large sums of money. This effectively shut out smaller parties and independent voices who could not afford such packages. It was alleged that over 50% of newly elected MLAs had criminal charges against them, yet some received adulatory coverage without mentioning this. The scale of such paid coverage was large, with some high-end candidates spending over Rs. 1.5 crore for special supplements. This undermined fair coverage of issues and misled readers by passing off paid propaganda as real news stories.