In a historic verdict, Kerala returns the Left Democratic Front to power for the positive impact its government made on people’s lives, efficient governance, development activities and visionary policies. Despite its tall claims, the BJP lost even the single seat it had in the Assembly and the Congress-led United Democratic Front finds itself weak and clueless.

The DMK storms back to power in Tamil Nadu after a gap of 10 years by registering a comfortable victory, while the AIADMK succeeds in preventing a whitewash in a waveless election that reinforces the hegemony of Dravidian parties in the State.

The fact that India does not know the names of the 21 members of its National Task Force for COVID-19 is emblematic of the colossal failure of both the task force—whose only job seems to be to endorse the decisions of its political masters—and the government to prepare for or take steps to mitigate the inevitable second wave of the pandemic. Should such a task force not be taken to task for its laxity and negligence?

The annual Spring Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank note the sharp divergence in the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic globally and also point to the lack of ambition needed to bridge the performance gap which has crippled low- and middle-income countries and devastated vulnerable populations.

The Trinamool Congress beats anti-incumbency to win its third consecutive Assembly election as the people of West Bengal vote to keep out the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The BJP comes to power in Puducherry riding on the back of the N.R. Congress, but there is trouble brewing in the alliance as the tussle for chief ministership begins.

The government has few constructive leads to offer as the second wave of the pandemic develops into a crisis of an unprecedented scale.

The Modi government’s decision to deregulate vaccine procurement and deliveries, just as the vaccine rollout runs into a supply constraint, threatens to leave millions of people uncovered. In the process, it compromises the nation’s defence against the virus.

Even as health care facilities are overwhelmed by the massive surge in infections and crematoriums are fast running out of space and firewood, the State government and the Centre are indulging in a blame game.

The massive victory of the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu and the LDF in Kerala, overturns the BJP’s grand plans of establishing Hindutva political hegemony across all regions and reinforces India’s political diversity and federal character.