The former Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr. Somnath Chatterjee has said that criminalization of politics has vitiated our political system in a very regrettable manner. Delivering the first Professor, Hirendranath Mukherjee commemorative lecture in Kolkata today Mr. Chatterjee said that while the malaise the corruption has been a major issue in polity, the influence of money and muscle power in our electoral process has brought the entire matter the centre-stage. He said that the press has a vital role to play in this issue. Mr. Chatterjee said that a vibrant opposition in parliamentary democracy is an asset.<br/>