The Catch Up: 3 April

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.It’s the 3rd of April and here are today's headlines.In an exclusive investigation report, The Indian Express has found that since 2014, as many as 25 prominent politicians facing action from Central agencies for alleged corruption have crossed over to the BJP. These politicians cut across party lines: 10 are from the Congress; four each from NCP and Shiv Sena; three from TMC; two from TDP; and one each from SP and YSRCP. In 23 of these cases, their political move has translated into reprieve. The Opposition calls it the “washing machine,” the mechanism by which politicians accused of corruption don’t face legal consequences if they quit their party and join the BJP.The Delhi High Court today heard Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea seeking immediate release from the custody of Enforcement Directorate. Senior advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal said that the case reeks of timing issues which ensures that Kejriwal is unable to participate in democratic activity and to try to disintegrate the AAP before the first vote is cast. Additional Solicitor SV Raju representing ED said that he was in a bit of a dilemma because what is filed is a writ petition against arrest but it is argued as a bail application or quashing application.Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor today said the question of who could be an alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “irrelevant” as in a parliamentary system people are not electing an individual but a party or a coalition of parties. In a post on X, he said the alternative to PM Modi is a group of experienced, capable and diverse leaders who will be responsive to people’s problems and not driven by individual ego.India’s first Olympic medallist in boxing Vijender Singh joined the BJP today. Singh had fought the 2019 Lok Sabha election unsuccessfully from the South Delhi constituency as a Congress candidate. Singh comes from the Jat community, which has political influence in a large number of seats in Haryana, the state he comes from, western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.At least nine people were killed and 800 others injured in a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked Taiwan early morning today. Authorities said that 50 travellers aboard four minibuses heading to a hotel in a national park are missing in Hualien. As many as 34 aftershocks were recorded. The quake had a depth of 15.5 km, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration. The strongest tremor to hit the island in at least 25 years, the quake sparked a tsunami warning for southern Japan and the Philippines that was later lifted.This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.