3 Things

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 5th of June and here are today's headlines.


The National Democratic Alliance is likely to stake a claim to form government for the third consecutive time today, after the meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence. Earlier today, Modi tendered his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu along with his Council of Ministers. He is likely to take oath for a third consecutive term on the 8th of June. This is the first time since Jawaharlal Nehru that a prime minister will be returning to power for a third consecutive term. With the BJP failing to go past the majority mark on their own, their allies Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar are in Delhi today for a meeting.

As the INDIA bloc leaders prepare to meet at Congress President Malllikarjun Kharge’s residence today, NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar said that there had been no discussion within the bloc on reaching out to the TDP or JD(U) to shore up the numbers of the alliance for government formation. Congress leader KC Venugopal said that the INDIA bloc’s tally in the Lok Sabha Elections was “excellent” and that the alliance leaders would discuss their strategy at the meeting.

While taking responsibility for the setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party Maharashtra in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections, Devendra Fadnavis today offered to step down as the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and work for the party. Fadnavisa said the Lok Sabha election results were way below the party’s expectations.This is the second time that Fadnavis has expressed his wish to remain outside the government and lead the BJP unit.

A city court has rejected Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s interim bail plea in a money laundering case related to the excise policy, even as it extended his judicial custody till 19th of June. Special judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue Courts dismissed Kejriwal’s plea seeking interim bail for seven days on medical grounds. The blow comes just a day after the Kejriwal’s party AAP failed to make a mark in the Lok Sabha elections, with the BJP dominating the national capital for the third time in a row, winning all seven Lok Sabha seats.

Wishes poured in from across the world for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP-led National Democratic Alliance for a third term in a row as they won 293 Lok Sabha seats. The American daily The Washington Post called India's Lok Sabha election results 2024 as determined by Indian voters to be an "unexpected repudiation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership." British daily The Guardian said "it was clear that the landslide for the BJP predicted in polls had not materialised and instead there had been a pushback against the strongman prime minister and his Hindu nationalist politics in swathes of the country."

This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.

From the BJP managing to win only 240 seats (despite a '400 paar' campaign), to the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh emerging as the party with the third-highest number of seats in the country, to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) pushing back strongly in West Bengal, and the Congress party significantly increasing its tally, today on the podcast, we decode the rather surprising results of the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls.

Guests: Indian Express’ Vandita Mishra, Neerja Chowdhury, Asad Rehman, Shubhajit Roy, Liz Mathew, Deeptiman Tiwary, and Hamza Khan.

Hosted and written by Shashank Bhargava
Produced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Additional support from Mahiyar Rohinton Patel

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 4th of June and here are today's headlines.


With the NDA poised to form the government for a third consecutive time, bagging at least 290 seats, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “historic feat”. As the INDIA bloc managed to halt the BJP’s march towards majority, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came out to hit out at the BJP, saying that the mandate today was a clear indication that the people of the country do not want to PM Modi and Amit Shah to run the country. The Opposition INDIA bloc has reversed all exit poll predictions, leading in at least 228 seats, according to the latest numbers. However, despite a stiff contest, the BJP-led NDA is inching closer towards the 300-mark, standing at 297 at the moment.

In what is probably the biggest upset state-wise, the tug-of-war for Odisha between BJP and BJD ended today with the Bharatiya Janata Party set to form the next government. Though the ruling BJD party hels various rallies and election campaigns, the saffron party has crossed the majority mark of 74. Odisha CHief Minister Naveen Patnaik served for five consecutive terms, but now the lotus party will form its first cabinet in the coastal state.

In a major setback for the BJP, Union minister Smriti Irani lost to the Congress’s K L Sharma in Amethi, as Congress wrest back power. The Amethi win comes as a big boost to the Congress, with Rahul Gandhi losing the seat to Irani in 2019. In neighbouring Rae Bareli, a Congress party bastion for decades, Rahul defeated BJP candidate Dinesh Pratap Singh, who apologised to the people of Rae Bareli.

Behind the remarkable turnaround for the Opposition Samajwadi Party and Congress in Uttar Pradesh where the INDIA bloc was leading, some fascinating factors may have given them an upper hand over the BJP. One of the factors that may have worked in favour of the SP, is its ticket-distribution strategy. Unlike previous elections, the SP ticket distribution focused on non-Yadav OBCs. Also, the SP changed candidates in several constituencies, depending on feedback from local cadre and local caste equation.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its allies, the JanaSena Party (JSP) of Pawan Kalyan and BJP, are headed for a landslide in Andhra Pradesh, in what is a complete reversal of the 2019 results. This is quite a turnaround for the TDP-led alliance, which was almost written off months before the elections after its chief N Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest. Jagan seemed to have lost focus on governance issues in trying to implement his nine welfare schemes, which he had promised during his padyatra ahead of the 2019 polls.

This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.

First, Indian Express' Sukrita Baruah joins us to talk about Arunachal Pradesh's assembly elections. She shares the results of the assembly elections and the seat distribution that it has led to.

Next, Indian Express’ Damini Nath speaks to us about the BJP and the opposition INDIA Bloc approaching the Election Commission with concerns, days before the announcement of the Lok Sabha election results. She shares the issues that were expressed and the election authority's response. (8:26)

And in the end, we talk about BRS leader K Kavitha who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate due to her involvement in the Delhi excise policy scam. Her judicial custody has been extended till June 3. (14:53)

Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced and written by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 3rd of June and here are today's headlines.

With less than 24 hours to go for the counting of votes to start, all eyes are on whether the exit poll predictions will hold ground — the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government coming back to power with thumping majority. While the Opposition’s INDIA bloc has rubbished the exit polls, the BJP is confident of easily crossing the majority-mark, even planning out how they want to celebrate the landmark victory. All major exit polls have projected a resounding victory for the NDA with the BJP expected to better its own 2019 tally of 303 seats.

A day before the vote counting of 18th Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar Monday said the EC had failed to counter “mischievous” narratives – starting with allegations that the electoral roll was faulty, then questions raised on EVMs and voter turnout, and now the counting processes. Asked whether there were any learnings from the election process, he said that in hindsight, given the heatwave, the polls should have been finished within a month. Additionally, he said that the EC has to be better prepared to counter “false narratives”.

The Delhi government has approached the Supreme Court, seeking increased water allocation from neighboring states due to an acute water crisis caused by extreme heat waves. While Himachal Pradesh has agreed to share surplus water, the Haryana government is not providing necessary support. The Supreme Court has called for an urgent meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board to address the critical situation.

Bengaluru experienced a heavy downpour on Sunday, during the Southwest Monsoon, breaking a 133-year-old record for the highest daily rainfall in June. According to the India Meteorological Department, the city received 111.1 mm of rainfall on that day, surpassing previous 101.6mm in 1891. The current forecast suggests that rainfall will continue for the next two days, accompanied by overcast conditions and light to moderate thunderstorms. This recent heavy rainfall has put Bengaluru on track to potentially break its highest monthly rainfall record for June, which currently stands at 228.2 mm recorded in 1996.

Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including one who has long evaded security forces, were trapped in a gunfight with a joint team of security forces in Kashmir's Pulwama. The militants, identified as Riyaz Ahmad Dar (a militant since September 2015) and Rayees (who joined in 2021). A joint team comprising personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army, and paramilitary forces cordoned off Pulwama’s Nehama village after specific inputs about the presence of militants in the village.

This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.

Large parts of the country are currently experiencing an intensely hot summer, with temperatures soaring to record levels. The extreme heat has already claimed lives in states like Bihar, Odisha, Gujarat and Delhi. 

So today, we dedicate this episode to discussing heat waves, how they affect our bodies, and the precautions you should take to stay safe. Joining us for this discussion is Dr. Dileep Mavalankar, honorary professor and former director of the Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar.

Hosted and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Timestamps:

What counts as a heatwave (01:21)

What happens during a heat stroke (04:40)

Prickly heat, heat cramps, and heat syncope (06:36)

The difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion (07:26)

Precautions to take when stepping out (10:46)

When your job requires you to be outside (12:53)

Is electrolyte better than water? (14:23)

Does the temperature of drinking water matter? (15:25)

When you don't have access to air conditioning (18:42)

Should you avoid showering when the water is not cool? (21:35)

A note for kids and pregnant women (22:53)

Why cities are getting hotter (23:41)

The best time to exercise/workout (26:26)

Changes that can be implemented to cities (27:06)

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 31st of May and here are the top stories of the week.

After a three-month-long hectic campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kanyakumari on Thursday, to begin a 45-hour meditation retreat. For his visit, the PM chose the historically significant Dhyana Mandapam inside the Swami Vivekananda Memorial, situated on a rocky islet. Modi started his meditation with prayers at the renowned Sri Bhagavathi Amman Temple before boarding a special boat to the mid-sea Vivekananda Memorial. 

The National Capital on Wednesday witnessed light rains and thunderstorms amidst record breaking temperatures and a severe heatwave. On the same day, Mungeshpur in Northwest Delhi had recorded the highest-ever temperature in the city at 52.3 degrees Celsius. Delhi water minister Atishi announced that a Rs 2000 fine would be imposed on anyone found to be wasting water. This included washing cars with a hose, letting their water tanks overflow or using private connections for commercial activity.

With the BJP turning up the heat on the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD over the growing influence of his aide and former bureaucrat V K Pandian, Patnaik on Thursday sought to make it clear that Pandian is not his “successor”, and speculation suggesting this is “an exaggeration”. On whether his party has a succession plan, Patnaik reiterated that the successor “will be decided by the people of the state. That is the natural result in these things”.

Days after former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif admitted that Islamabad had violated the Lahore pact, India on Thursday said an objective view is emerging on the issue in the neighbouring country. Sharif on Tuesday said Islamabad had “violated” an agreement with India signed by him and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999, in an apparent reference to the Kargil misadventure by General Pervez Musharraf. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said quote, “You are aware of our position on the issue. I need not have to reiterate that. We note that there is an objective view emerging in Pakistan as well on this matter,” Unquote.

On Sunday night, an Israeli air strike on an area designated for displaced Palestinians in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip, resulted in the deaths of 45 people and injured 249 others. A social media campaign titled 'All eyes on Rafah' emerged after the loss of at least 37 lives on May 28, gaining significant attention. In response, Israel launched the campaign “Where were eyes on October 7th?” referencing the October 7 Hamas-led attacks that killed at least 1,200 people.

This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.

First, Indian Express' Sweety Kumari joins us to talk about Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar, who went missing after his arrival in Kolkata and now has allegedly been brutally murdered. She shares about the investigations done by the CID and the Dhaka Police and the speculations being made.

Next, Indian Express’ Amitabh Sinha speaks to us about Cyclone Remal and the destruction that it has caused. He also shares about the early warning systems in place and how the cyclone became a multi-hazard disaster. (9:32)

And in the end, we talk about an Israeli air strike that happened on an area that was designated for displaced Palestinians in Rafah that killed 45 people and has sparked a global outrage. (19:02)

Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced and written by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Vijay Doiphode

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 30th of May and here are today's headlines.

Addressing his final Lok Sabha election rally in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi compared the works of his government with the ideology of Guru Ravidas. He also attacked the INDIA bloc, particularly the Congress, for violating the Constitution during the Emergency and the 1984 riots against Sikhs. He also accused the Opposition of trying to divide the country based on religion through reservation. Punjab goes to polls on 1st of June in the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

A Delhi court today issued notice to the ED on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea seeking regular bail in a case related to the alleged excise scam. The court directed the central agency to file its response by Saturday. The judge also sought ED’s response on another plea of Kejriwal seeking seven-day extension of his interim bail on medical grounds, in case the regular bail petition is not allowed. Meanwhile, The Delhi government is set to hold an emergency meeting regarding the water crisis in the city amid a prevailing heatwave.

Speaking of heat, he India Meteorological Department announced that southwest monsoon set in over Kerala today, two days ahead of its normal onset date of 1st of June. With this, the country’s four-month-long chief monsoon season has commenced. The monsoon has also simultaneously commenced early in some parts of Northeastern India, where it usually arrives between June 2 and 5.

Security has been stepped up in New York after terror group ISIS-K made a “global” threat year against the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup match featuring India and Pakistan. According to a report by CNN, Nassau County Police Commissioner said the event first received an ISIS-K-linked threat in April which was followed by more specific threats on the India versus Pakistan game, scheduled for 9th of June. He added that the threats also had references to a viral video circulating online, which calls for “that lone wolf to act out.”

Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos today successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle. It was powered by the world’s first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine, after calling off its launch at least four times previously. Agnibaan SOrTeD (Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator) lifted off this morning in a mission of many firsts. While it is the second launch by a private startup in India, it is the first to use a private launchpad that the company has set up at the country’s only operational spaceport at Sriharikota.

This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.

As we draw closer to the end of the Lok Sabha polls, today on the podcast, we are taking a break from our usual programming to share a conversation that we recently had with Vandita Mishra, Indian Express' National Opinion Editor.

Throughout these elections, Vandita traveled across five crucial states - Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal. In this discussion, we talk about the concerns of voters in these states, the reasons behind many choosing to vote for the ruling party, the current state of opposition, and the biggest factors that will determine the outcome of these polls.

Hosted and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Vijay Doiphode
Additional support from Ichha Sharma and Mahiyar Rohinton Patel