FROM February 23 to 29, 2020, communal violence swept north east district of Delhi shocking the whole country with its savagery. Fifty-four persons lost their lives, several hundred people were injured, hundreds of homes, shops, schools and vehicles and even religious places were set ablaze or destroyed, while thousands fled the area.

THE Local Self-Governing Institutions (LSGI) elections in Kerala have resulted in a resounding victory for the Left Democratic Front.  The LDF has won 11 out of the 14 district panchayats; 108 of the 152 block panchayats; and 514 of the 941 grama panchayats.  The LDF has won five of the six corporations and 35 of the 86 municipalities.It is significant that the LDF has improved overall upon the success it registered in the 2015 elections, five years ago.

A MASSIVE Left wave has engulfed Kerala's political scene as the CPIM-led Left Democratic Front has swept a major chunk of the seats in the recent local body elections. Dealing a massive blow to the INC-led UDF, LDF has conclusive leads in five city corporations out of six, 10 out of 14 district panchayats, 108 out of 152 block panchayats, 34 out of 86 municipalities, and 514 out of 941 grama panchayats in the state. The present LDF government was much appreciated for the citizen-friendly way in which the state tackled the coronavirus crisis.

THE big success of the Bharat bandh called by the farmers’ organisations on December 8 was a display of people’s support and sympathy for the cause of the farmers.The spontaneous response to the bandh call in many places and the support extended to it by a wide range of organisations and sections of the society – trade unions, traders’ organisations, transport associations, teachers, students and women’s organisations – all indicate the isolation of the Modi government on this issue.  It is also significant that almost all non-BJP opposition parties expressed support for the protest action.

IN the context of the on-going country-wide kisan movement for repealing Modi’s three agriculture bills, while an overwhelming majority of commentators have stood with the position taken by the kisans, a few, though not necessarily agreeing with Modi, have raised the question: why shouldn’t agriculture operate within a free market?