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The borewells and hand pumps that were serving the water needs of people of Telangana have dried up. The scanty rainfall has spared no one and even Telangana, which was bifurcated from Andhra Pradesh in 2014, is staring at its third successive drought. 
 
Coupled with an unrelenting heat wave, villages in Telangana are facing a long gap between demand and supply of water. Even Hyderabad is facing the dry spell as four major reservoirs that supply drinking water to the capital city went dry for the first time in 30 years. 
 
Singur, Manjeera, Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs have dried up and presently, there is a gap of 47 per cent between demand for water and supply in Hyderabad. 
 
Meanwhile, other districts and villages of Telangana are also facing the same problem as temperatures as high as 44.6 degrees are making the situation worse. 
 
One of the hottest districts Adilabad recorded 11 sunstroke deaths so far. Till now, 66 deaths have been reported in Telangana. 
 
Clearly, the ban on illegal borewells did not work and the digging activity went on across the state. 
 
Even though the state machinery has stepped up efforts to deal with the crisis, it is not giving immediate relief to the farmers who are selling off their cattle to survive. 
 
(Images: Indiatimes)

The Drought Series: Telangana is facing its 3rd consecutive drought coupled with a heatwave

<ul><li>India is facing two extreme weather conditions together— drought and floods. </li><li>One corner of the country — Assam and parts of Bihar is fighting heavy floods. Others like <keyword id="12864" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chennai">Chennai</keyword> and Hyderabad are running dry, due to light or no showers at all.</li><li>The seasonal monsoon rains which are supposed to start in June were late in almost every part of the country.</li></ul>India is facing two extreme weather conditions together — heavy floods and drought. That is affecting millions of people, particularly the poor. These extreme weather conditions will weaken the economic productivity, in addition to wreaking destruction, and displacing a large number of people. The seasonal monsoon rains which are supposed to start in June were late in almost every part of the country. One corner of the country — Assam and parts of Bihar is fighting heavy floods. Others like Chennai and Hyderabad are running dry, due to light or no showers at all. Too Little, too late India’s monsoon is crucial as it accounts for 70% of its annual rainfall. If the monsoons are lower or slower, it leads to water crisis, due to its almost exclusive dependence on it. The government think tank NITI Aayog expects as many as 21 cities to be devoid of ground water by 2020. Cities are running dry one after the other.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/five-years-on-india-may-not-even-get-a-chance-to-solve-its-on-going-water-crisis-risking-hundreds-of-millions-of-lives/articleshow/69988627.cms"> First Chennai went dry and with less or no drinking water for its citizens</a>. Now, the twin cities of Hyderabad and <keyword id="6354398" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="secunderabad">Secunderabad</keyword> — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/water-crisis-hyderabad-may-not-have-drinking-water-in-next-48-days/articleshow/70223928.cms">have less than two months to go for monsoon to fix its water problems</a>. And, they are already late and lower than expected. Water crisis has become common almost every year. In 2018, 600 million Indians were exposed to acute water crisis, according to Niti Aayog. In 2017, five south Indian states faced water shortages like Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Too Much Uncertain weather patterns brought too much rain leading floods and landslides in Assam. At least 28 districts in Assam are affected. So far, 30 people have been reported dead and 5.8 million displaced due to monsoon floods in Assam. The water level of Brahmaputra continues to rise above the danger mark in at least 10 places, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southasia-floods/millions-stranded-in-india-as-early-monsoon-downpours-bring-flood-havoc-idUSKCN1UC1E2">reported Reuters</a>, citing Assam Disaster Management Authority. People are forced to drink dirty water and eat anything they get. Parts of Bihar too are flooded, forcing evacuation of affected residents. Separately, a second spell of monsoon is likely to bring extremely heavy rains in the coming days in Kerala. Six districts in the state including Idukki, <keyword id="69399" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Malappuram">Malappuram</keyword>, and Wayanad are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/high-alert-in-six-districts-of-kerala-idukki-malappuram-wayanad-thrissur-kannur-for-heavy-rainfall/articleshow/70256251.cms">on high alert from 18 July to 20 July. </a> Last year in August 2018, Kerala was swept away by deadly monsoon rains taking as many as 504 lives. The state, was caught off guard and 3.4 million people were displaced. In all, 23 million people were affected at the price of $2.7 billion, reported India spend. Unexpected weather conditions have been dogging the country for a few years now. Two years back, heavy rains and widespread flooding across India, Bangladesh and Nepal led to death of 1,200 people. As many as 805,183 homes and 18 million people were affected in Northern India. The total damages and destructions by the floods in 2017 were $2.5 billion, according to Central Water Commission. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/water-crisis-hyderabad-may-not-have-drinking-water-in-next-48-days/articleshow/70223928.cms">India’s water crisis deepens as Hyderabad might run out of water, like Chennai</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/five-years-on-india-may-not-even-get-a-chance-to-solve-its-on-going-water-crisis-risking-hundreds-of-millions-of-lives/articleshow/69988627.cms">Five years on, India may not even get a chance to solve its on-going water crisis risking hundreds of millions of lives</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/high-alert-in-six-districts-of-kerala-idukki-malappuram-wayanad-thrissur-kannur-for-heavy-rainfall/articleshow/70256251.cms">The weatherman has warned of heavy rains in Kerala, which just got $250 million World Bank aid to recover from last year's floods</a>

Bone dry or deluge — the freakish monsoon is killing Indians either way

<ul><li>Hyderabad may not have drinking water in the next 48 days. </li><li>A sluggish monsoon that brought little rainfall in Telangana state, has put Hyderabad at the brink of a <keyword id="6355836" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-crisis">water crisis</keyword>. </li><li>It could affect its 6.8 million residents. </li></ul>India’s worst ever water crisis might cripple the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad — in the next 48 days. A sluggish monsoon that brought little rainfall in Telangana state, has put its capital — Hyderabad— at the brink of a water crisis. And, it could affect its 6.8 million residents. Since July 1, Hyderabad district witnessed 115.1 mm of rainfall. But it is 29% lower than its normal rainfall,<a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/water-crisis-looming-over-hyderabad-telanganas-reservoirs-run-dry-105433"> said Telangana State Development Planning Society. </a> “If monsoon plays truant, there is every likelihood of Hyderabad facing water crisis from the second week of September,” said an official to Times Of India. This will be the second city that will be in trouble after Chennai ran out of water, forcing its government to bring in water using train wagons. All the four reservoirs of Chennai ran dry, leaving its residents scrambling for<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/five-years-on-india-may-not-even-get-a-chance-to-solve-its-on-going-water-crisis-risking-hundreds-of-millions-of-lives/articleshow/69988627.cms"> water to drink.</a> Drying Reservoirs There are two primary sources of water in Hyderabad — the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir (River Krishna) and the Yellampalli reservoir (River Godavari). Water levels at both these reservoirs are dangerously low, spreading fears of an acute water crisis. In spite of the rains, there isn’t any fresh water from any of the sources including the twin reservoirs of Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar. The state authorities are hoping that rainfall in the next two-three weeks can restore the situation back to normal. In case the water level doesn’t rise, the state authorities will have to prepare an emergency action plan that involves pumping out water from reservoirs. Nation-wide crisis The government think tank NITI Aayog believes that 21 of the country’s major cities will be devoid of groundwater by 2020, affecting 100 million people. It named New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad in its list. Water has been a cause for stress in the country. While most cities are in want of water, others are facing an excess. <a href="https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/heavy-rain-and-floods-in-indias-assam-kill-10-displace-more-than-1m-1.65208377">Floods in Assam </a>have displaced a million people, and killed eleven as the state continues to face problems. Experts are calling for privatising water supply as a cost-effective measure that can bring in efficiencies into water management. “Mumbai loses 25% of its water to leakage and theft. Similarly, 37% of the water leaks out of Bangalore’s pipelines. Politicians and bureaucrats receive water in their own homes, and receive their salaries regardless of how poorly they perform their duties. Not surprisingly, they see no need to improve. <a href="https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3012374/indias-worst-ever-water-shortage-and-corruption-surrounding-it-can">an economist wrote in the South China Morning Post</a>.” See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-first-special-train-carrying-more-than-2-million-litre-of-water-reaches-chennai/articleshow/70192058.cms">The first special train carries 2 million litres of water to Chennai — but the quick fix might not solve its problems</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/five-years-on-india-may-not-even-get-a-chance-to-solve-its-on-going-water-crisis-risking-hundreds-of-millions-of-lives/articleshow/69988627.cms">Five years on, India may not even get a chance to solve its on-going water crisis risking hundreds of millions of lives</a>

India’s water crisis deepens as Hyderabad might run out of water, like Chennai

India is reeling under severe drought conditions and heat wave, breaking past records. Maharashtra, Telangana are among 10 states that are reeling under severe humanitarian crisis due to water scarcity. 
 
Another such state is Karnataka, which is going through worst drought in 10 years. Around 3.1 crore people and 22759 villages are drought struck, leading to a massive exodus of people. Although an exodus during summers is a common phenomenon in Karnataka, this time the figures have intensified and are alarming at around 3-4 lakh, including Hyderabad. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-Drought-Series-Telangana-is-facing-its-3rd-consecutive-drought-coupled-with-a-heatwave/articleshow/51931861.cms">The Drought Series: Telangana is facing its 3rd consecutive drought coupled with a heatwave</a> 
 
People in Karnataka are digging up wells, areas near rivers in search of water. Such is the situation that they are even exploiting water for the cattle. 
 
In Bengaluru, wells have been dug as deep as 1,200 ft and there has been a six-fold dip in water table in urban areas and three-fold fall in rural Karnataka since 2005. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-Drought-Series-Maharashtras-drought-explained/articleshow/51927097.cms">The Drought Series: Maharashtra’s drought explained</a> 
 
Areas such as Mysuru, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Kalaburagi, Karwar, etc are staring at worst days to come since beside the rapid depletion of ground water, whatever water is left is also contaminated. 
 
The state government has stepped up efforts in this regard and is sending water tankers, however, there are still many villages who are yet to receive the aid. 
 
Even the Centre has approved Rs 723 crore for Karnataka, against the demand of Rs.1,417 crore for damage to the rabi or winter crop due to widespread drought. 
 
The repeat woes of Karnataka are resonating with the other states too. 
 
Here’s an overview: 
 
 
(Images: Indiatimes)

The Drought Series: Nearly 3.1 crore people in Karnataka are hit by the drought and migration is intensifying

The mercury has soared all across India, because of which the water storage availability at India's 91 major reservoirs has dipped to mere 37.92 billion cubic metres, and this might come as a shock to everyone, but this is just 24% of the total storage capacity of these reservoirs. 
 In its latest bulletin, the <keyword id="6357283" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Central-Water-Commission">Central Water Commission</keyword> has noted that as on April 7, the storage status of these reservoirs was even less than the corresponding period last year. 
 
It is during the monsoon period of June to September that the reservoirs usually get their share of water; however, because of less rainfall in 2014 and 2015, they have seen heavy decline in water availability. This is also directly hampering the irrigation scene of India. 
 
As a ray of hope, the India Meteorological Department has predicted abundant rainfall this year, because of which these reservoirs are supposed to get enough water during this monsoon. 
 
Indian states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Bengal, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, UP, Uttarakhand, MP, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala are facing lesser storage than last year’s corresponding period. 
 
On the other hand, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura, only two states have reported better storage as compared to the previous year. 
 
<a href="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE0LzAxLzMxLzE4L2NhbGlmb3JuaWEuMGU3YjUuanBnCnAJdGh1bWIJMTQ0MHgxMDAwPgplCWpwZw/4d99367d/853/california_drought_4.jpg">Image source</a> (Image for representational purpose only)

91 Key reservoirs in India have less than a quarter of their full capacities left

<ul><li>The water crisis is so severe that over 600 million people in the country are facing “high to extreme water stress”.</li><li>54% of the nation’s groundwater wells are running out and 21 major cities are likely to run out of groundwater as soon as 2020. </li><li>Approximately 200,000 Indians die every year because they don’t have access to clean water. </li></ul> If the news of constant dust storms claiming <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/dust-storm-rajasthan-uttar-pradesh-north-india-over-a-hundred-killed-5162640/">hundreds</a> of lives, or of how India harbours <a href="https://theprint.in/science/air-pollution-is-higher-in-low-income-cities-and-affect-the-poor-more/68328/" data-type="tilCustomLink">six of the 10 most polluted cities</a> in the world have you worried, brace yourself for some more bad news. India has now paved its way to an unprecedented acute water crisis. According to a report by government think-tank <keyword id="2665691" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Niti-Aayog">Niti Aayog</keyword>, the water crisis is so severe that over 600 million people in the country are facing “high to extreme water stress”. The exhaustive <a href="http://www.niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/document_publication/2018-05-18-Water-index-Report_vS6B.pdf">report</a> generated based on data drawn from 24 of India's 29 states clearly says that the “crisis is only going to get worse”. According to the report, 54% of the nation’s groundwater wells are running out and 21 major cities are likely to run out of groundwater as soon as 2020. Plus, 70% of the available water is contaminated. In fact, of 122 countries, India features at the 120th position in the water quality index. The report also states that approximately 200,000 Indians die every year because they don’t have access to clean water. Additionally, 75% of India’s households do not have drinking water on premises and 84% of rural households do not have access to piped water. And, with a surge in people moving to towns and cities, the burden on urban water resources is expected to increase. So much so that by 2030 the demand for water will be double the supply. The report’s main aim is to nudge the country’s States and Union Territories to use the limited water at their disposal in the best possible manner. And while some states have managed to improve their water management system, worryingly, the highly populous states and those that are heavily dependent on agriculture, feature quite low in the water management ranking. <keyword id="6354766" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gujarat">Gujarat</keyword> topped the list of states that managed its water resources best, followed by Madhya Pradesh and <keyword id="37102" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword>. On the other hand, <keyword id="30033" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bihar">Bihar</keyword>, <keyword id="6357713" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh">Uttar Pradesh</keyword>, Haryana and Jharkhand were the worst performing states. However, one reassuring finding of this report is that some of the states that experience severe droughts in recent years have made it to the high and medium performers category in the water resource management index. These states include Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, <keyword id="68884" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telangana">Telangana</keyword>. While the report concluded that “water management is improving across-the-board" it is perhaps prudent to make note of its rather bleak statement that a severe water crisis that will potentially affect hundreds of millions is imminent if things do not change, and fast.

India is in the midst of an acute water crisis and things could get much worse

Is it just us or does it feel like we are all starring in Stranger Things and living in ‘the Upside Down’? We sure are living in stranger times and dealing with unpredictable plot twists almost every other day. <div type="image" title="Stranger Things" msid="93786051" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Stranger Things&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> On August 24, 2022, India reported 10,649 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/india-logs-in-8586-new-covid-infections-active-cases-decline/articleshow/93723223.cms">new </a>cases of the novel <keyword id="1754604" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus" source="Orion">coronavirus</keyword>. <div type="image" title="COVID-19 new case additions and deaths" msid="93786058" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;COVID-19 new case additions and deaths&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> While the once-novel disease keeps coming back in waves, it isn’t the only one that the country is battling today. New <keyword id="25927" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="diseases" source="Orion">diseases</keyword> such as <keyword id="7616951" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="monkeypox" source="Orion">monkeypox</keyword> and <keyword id="13885432" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tomato-Flu" source="Orion">tomato flu</keyword> are also plaguing the whole world. Tomato flu: Symptoms and precaution <div type="image" title="Over 82 children below the age of five years have been reportedly infected with Tomato flu" msid="93786076" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Over 82 children below the age of five years have been reportedly infected with Tomato flu&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> A new infection named Tomato flu has been reported from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Odisha. It is now determined to be a clinical variant of the hand-foot-mouth disease, caused by a group of enteroviruses or viruses transmitted through the intestine. Over 82 children below the age of five years have been reportedly infected with the disease. As per Lancet Respiratory Medicine, tomato flu could also ‘be a new variant of the viral hand, foot, and mouth disease, a common infectious disease targeting mostly children aged 1–5 years and immunocompromised adults.’ The infection results in tomato-shaped blisters on the body and causes skin irritation, dehydration, joint pain, diarrhoea, nausea, discolouration of hands, knees and buttocks, vomiting, and fatigue. While it is yet to be ascertained if it affects only children, the Union Health Ministry has issued a set of guidelines on how to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/tomato-flu-outbreak-in-keralatamilnadu-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-infection/articleshow/91496289.cms">protect </a>children from the infection and its treatment course. In children with these symptoms, the advisory said, ‘molecular and serological tests are done for diagnosis of dengue, chikungunya, zika virus, varicella-zoster virus, and herpes; once these viral infections are ruled out, a diagnosis of tomato flu is considered’. If you develop some of these symptoms, the first and foremost thing to do is consult a doctor immediately. The guidelines also state that if children develop symptoms, they should be isolated. Their belongings such as utensils, clothing and bedding must be regularly sanitised. Children should also stay hydrated, and the blisters caused by the infection must be cleaned with warm water. The infected person must avoid scratching the rashes or blisters. With the schools reopening, one must proceed with caution and not panic because the situation is not alarming yet. Monkeypox: Origin and symptoms <div type="image" title="Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease" msid="93786087" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> First discovered in 1958 in the colonies of monkeys kept for research, monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease. The first human case of monkeypox was reported from Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1970. Monkeypox virus primarily occurs in Central and West Africa. In 2003, the first monkeypox outbreak outside of Africa was reported in the United States of America which was linked to contact with infected pet prairie dogs. These pets had been housed with Gambian pouched rats and dormice that had been imported into the country from Ghana. Monkeypox starts with an unexplained acute rash. Other symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, body aches and profound weakness. As of August 24, there were 9 active cases of monkeypox in India, with 4 in Delhi and 5 in Kerala. If infected, patients are advised to isolate to prevent further transmission, while the authorities have been advised to provide optimal clinical care, identify and manage contacts, protect frontline health workers, take effective control and preventive measures based on the identified routes of transmission. Swine flu <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-19-monkeypox-tomato-fever-zika-virus-india-has-its-hands-full-with-these-outbreaks-and-more/slidelist/93296406.cms#slideid=93296723">Swine flu is not a new</a> outbreak, it had first appeared in 2015 and Rajasthan and Gujarat were among the worst-hit states. Around 218 people had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-19-monkeypox-tomato-fever-zika-virus-india-has-its-hands-full-with-these-outbreaks-and-more/slidelist/93296406.cms#slideid=93296723">succumbed </a>to the flu back in 2015. With the current weather, cases of swine flu or H1N1 flu and monsoon-related diseases are on the rise again in Maharashtra. In July, a total of 6 deaths were reported from Mumbai – 2 deaths// each// were caused by dengue and swine flu and 1 death each due to malaria and leptospirosis. During the same period, Mumbai reported 35 swine flu cases. Zika virus <div type="image" title="Zika virus" msid="93786113" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Zika virus &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> In July, cases of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-19-monkeypox-tomato-fever-zika-virus-india-has-its-hands-full-with-these-outbreaks-and-more/slidelist/93296406.cms#slideid=93296702">Zika virus were silently</a> spreading across Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Punjab and Delhi. Zika virus spreads mostly through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes and causes fever, headache, joint pain, red eyes, muscle pain and rash. Experts recommend that the only way to curb the spread is to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-19-monkeypox-tomato-fever-zika-virus-india-has-its-hands-full-with-these-outbreaks-and-more/slidelist/93296406.cms#slideid=93296702">control breeding of mosquitoes</a>, which commonly happens in stagnant water. As the world grapples with new variants of Covid-19, tomato flu and monkeypox, There are 200 more active viruses, and bacteria in the air, thanks to climate change, said a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/there-are-200-more-active-viruses-bacteria-in-the-air-thanks-to-climate-change/articleshow/93445722.cms">report </a>by Nature Climate Change. It could only worsen in years to come. <div type="image" title="Stay safe, mask up!" msid="93786150" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Stay safe, mask up!&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The research <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/there-are-200-more-active-viruses-bacteria-in-the-air-thanks-to-climate-change/articleshow/93445722.cms">revealed </a>that warming, precipitation, floods, drought, storm, land cover change, ocean climate change, fires, heatwaves and sea level changes were all found to influence diseases triggered by viruses, bacteria, animals, fungi, protozoans, plants and chromists. Pathogenic diseases were primarily transmitted by vectors. So, to stay safe, mask up people! Disclaimer: This content, including the advice, provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Please contact a medical professional for more information.

SIMPLY PUT: All you need to know to keep yourself safe from the newly emerging diseases

<ul><li>Due to inflation, theatres across the board have increased their prices for movie tickets and food and beverages by 5-20%.</li><li>However, their sales remain unaffected so far.</li><li>After almost two years of dry spell, multiplexes and single screens are seeing a strong recovery in 2022.</li><li>Despite costly tickets, consumer sentiment remains high as they flock to watch big-ticket movies on the silver screen with their loved ones.</li></ul>India’s cinema industry went through a severe drought due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Several pandemic-induced country-wide lockdowns forced theatres to shut down completely for more than 18 months, leading to a significant drop in revenue. However, after opening their doors to viewers in the second half of 2021, theatres are back to the pre-pandemic level of collections this month. Inox Leisure’s chief programming officer, Rajender Singh Jyala, said, “Last three months have been good for us. On average, we are clocking more than ₹1000-1500 crore every month.” Sharing which movies set the ball rolling at the multiplex chain this year, Jyala added, “Movies RRR and Gangubai Kathiawadi pushed the recovery. Before that, Kashmir Files and now with Bhool Bhulaiya 2, our footfalls and domestic ticket sales are at pre-pandemic level or even better.” With eagerly-awaited Bollywood movies such as Prithviraj, Brahmastra, and Lal Singh Chaddha slated to be released in the next three to four months, Jyala is optimistic that the momentum will continue this year. With its current progression, 2022 might turn out to be a golden year for the cinema industry, driven by home-grown content. Media consulting firm Ormax Media’s Partner, Gautam Jain, said, “The overall domestic <keyword id="25892" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="box-office" source="Orion">box office</keyword> collections have crossed the ₹4000 crore gross mark from January to April. This is the highest gross box office collection for January to April since 2018." "Given this growth trajectory and looking at the line-up of films slated to release this year, a gross box office collection of ₹12,000 crore looks possible, which would make this year the highest ever in terms of the gross box office [collection]," he further added. While INOX has reverted to the pre-pandemic level on all metrics, Ormax Jain said that the cinema industry’s overall footfalls and ticket sales are still lower than the pre-pandemic levels. Explaining why the gross box office revenue is higher than 2019 while footfalls continue to be low, Jain said, “The gross box office collections are higher due to the ticket prices being higher by 15-30% across languages. The ticket prices have increased even in south markets.” Cinema-lovers ignore soaring inflation, theatres remain unaffected As the cinema industry jumped past the first major roadblock that COVID-19 threw in its path, it faced another challenge this month – soaring inflation. The rise in inflation has affected all industries. The Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry has resorted to hiking its product prices and shrinking its products across its portfolio. Theatres have also raised their prices for movie tickets and food &amp; beverages (F&amp;B) by 5 to 20% in different parts of the country. However, audiences returning to the big screen, after being deprived of the theatrical experience for close to two years, seem to be indifferent to the price increase. “The rise in the prices of movie tickets and F&amp;B in line to cover inflation seems to be reasonable. Average ticket prices have risen by about 8 to 10% and over 15% in some states and cities. At the same time, the F&amp;B prices have increased between 5 to 10%. The pinch of price increase seems to be ignored by the patrons as both occupancy levels (irrespective of pricing) and the spending on F&amp;B increased during the period,” said consulting and advisory firm Deloitte India’s Partner, Chandrashekhar Mantha. He calls the steady recovery in this quarter a result of ‘revenge consumption trend,’ wherein consumers are trying to catch up on everything they missed out on in the last two years. The movie industry’s strong content pipeline has also struck a chord with the audience, further pushing the recovery. Multiplex chain INOX hasn’t felt the inflation’s impact either. While it has increased its movie ticket and F&amp;B prices by 5-10% across its 675 screens, its sales and footfall continue to go up. “The increase is not on that level wherein consumers can feel the pinch in their pockets. It is between 5 to 10%. In fact, spends on F&amp;B and the ticket sales that we're seeing is more than the pre-pandemic level,” Jyala told Business Insider India. On the other hand, Ormax Media’s Jain said that small budget films are feeling the impact of inflation and movie-goers are choosing to watch only big-ticket movies that seem to be worth their money. “Audiences are choosing to watch films that offer a theatrical big screen experience such as RRR or KGF Chapter 2 or spectacle films like Doctor Strange or Spider-Man or a collective experience Bhool Bhulaiya 2 or Saunkan Saunkne. Films that did not offer this, failed to get the audiences – for example Jayeshbhai Jordaar or Jersey," said Jain. "Apart from the ticket prices, since the audiences are aware of the eventual OTT premieres now and are exposed to OTT viewing, any film that does not fit the above criteria has failed to get a decent opening weekend as well,” he said. However, it is too soon to tell. Bollywood movies such as Jayeshbhai Jordaar or Jersey also failed to rake in numbers because they didn’t leave a good impression on critics. Regional movies jump ahead Regional movies like KGF 2.0, RRR and Pushpa have been reporting recording-breaking revenue collections at the box office, surpassing Hindi movies like Jayeshbhai Jordaar, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 so far. KGF 2.0 breached ₹800 crore revenue market in terms of net box office collection, which was slightly higher than RRR at ₹720 crore, revealed analytics and financial firm Elara Capital. The small to medium budget films in regional markets have reported a net box office collection of ₹50-55 crore each. On the other hand, recently released Hindi films have not been able to breach the ₹25-30 crore mark, which is a 50% less target than regional. “Relaxation of Average Ticket Price (ATP) cap in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana markets is one of the reasons for regional content reporting higher Box Office collections. The next big regional film release slated for June 3 – Vikram, may collect ₹150-175 crore net in terms of lifetime box office collection,” said Karan Taurani, Senior VP - Research Analyst, Elara Capital. A bright year ahead The rest of the year will see some major releases such as Akshay Kumar’s Prithiviraj, Aamir khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha, Varun Dhawan’s Jug Jug Jiyo, Ayushman Khurana’s Doctor G and Anek. From the regional markets, Virata Parvam of Rana Dugabatti, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect of R. Madhavan, Agent of Mamotty, Ravansura of Ravi Teja, the star-studded Vikram, are lined up for the second half of 2022. The Hollywood releases will further strengthen this pipeline. So, the year ahead looks bright for the movie exhibition industry. Analysts and movie exhibitors are confident about seeing a continued growth momentum in the next half.

Theatres cross pre-pandemic gross revenue collection despite pricey movie tickets

<ul><li>Monsoon is likely to hit Kerala on June 8. </li><li>With the monsoon delayed for another week, heatwaves in Northern India are going to continue. </li></ul><a href="https://sites.google.com/a/iitgn.ac.in/high_resolution_south_asia_drought_monitor/drought-early-warning-system/dews-india">With the early drought warning hovering over 43.3% parts of the country</a>, people in India aren’t going to get relieved from heat waves for another week. However<a href="http://www.imd.gov.in/pages/monsoon_main.php?adta=PDF&amp;adtb=6"> the monsoon is likely to begin within 48 hours</a> in Kerala and would take at least seven days to reach the central and western regions of the country. 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="Heavy to Very heavy rainfall at isolated places likely over Assam &amp; Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram &amp; Tripura, South Interior Karnataka and Kerala &amp; Mahe on June 8. Heavy rainfall at isolated places likely over Tamilnadu, Puducherry &amp; Karaikal, Lakshadweep, Rayalaseema and Odisha" auname="— Special daily Weather Report by the India Meteorological Department"></div>




 Temperature in Rajasthan’s Churu soared to 50 degree Celsius on June 1— the day when monsoon normally hits Southern parts of India. Many parts of the country are struggling with heat waves with the maximum temperature between 45 degrees to 50 degree Celsius. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heat waves were expected in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, Telangana and coastal Andhra Pradesh. <a href="http://www.imd.gov.in/pages/monsoon_main.php?adta=JPG&amp;adtb=1">Expected Monsoon dates in key parts of India </a> <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">State </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Normal Monsoon onset date </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Delayed till (Approximate)* </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Kerala </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">1 June </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">8 June </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Tamil Nadu </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">1 June </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">8 June </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Odisha </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">10 June </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">17 June </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Maharashtra </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">10 June </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">17 June </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">New Delhi </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">29 June </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">5 July </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">West Bengal </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">10 June </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">17 June </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Bihar </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">10 June </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">17 June </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Andhra Pradesh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">1 June </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">8 June </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Karnataka </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">5 June </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">13 June </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Haryana </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">1 July </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">8 July </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Punjab </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">1 July </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">8 July </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Uttar Pradesh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;"> </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Madhya Pradesh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">15 June </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">22 June </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Meghalaya </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">5 June </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">13 June </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Chattisgarh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">10 June </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">18 June </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Rajasthan </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">1 July </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">8 July </td></tr></tbody></table>*These are expected dates and may differ from the actual dates. This has been the second driest pre-monsoon season in the last 65 years, with the lowest being recorded in 2012 when countrywide cumulative rainfall deficiency had mounted to 31 per cent, according Private forecaster Skymet The heatwaves are expected to become severe in New Delhi and other northern cities in the coming days and the mercury is expected to breach 45 degrees Celsius. The National Capital Region along with Haryana and Punjab may get some relief due rains and thunderstorm led by western disturbances after June 11. 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="Usually monsoon arrives in Delhi on June 29. However, this time it is expected to be delayed by a week. It may come in the first week of July" auname="Mahesh Palawat, Director at the private forecaster Skymet."></div>





 Delhi on Wednesday recorded a maximum temperature of 44.6 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season's average. (With IANS)

Monsoon to hit Kerala tomorrow, heatwave in Northern India to last another week

Dhunia, a little girl from an unidentified village, is worried about her father. She skips school to keep a tab on her father every day and even secretly follows him to the fields. She’s getting sleepless nights and even holds on to her father’s arm while sleeping. 
 
Why? 
 
She is scared that her father might commit suicide like her friends’ fathers due to unforeseen <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=weather+forecast">weather conditions</a>? 
 
Like her, there are millions of families who lose sleep over this thought. 
 
This beautiful and heart warming video by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=skymet">Skymet Weather</a> to <keyword id="3008982" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="HelpTheFarmer">#HelpTheFarmer</keyword> has drawn attention towards a pitiful issue-<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=farmer+suicide">farmer suicide</a>. 
 
Farmer suicides due to drought, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=crop+damage">crop damage</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=unseasonal+rain">unseasonal</a> rain and scanty rainfall are worrisome and paint a sorry picture in a country where around 70% dependency is on the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=agriculture">agrarian sector</a>. 
 In 2014, the <keyword id="83948" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Farmer-suicide">farmer suicide</keyword> cases rose by 26% to 1,109. 
 
Minister of State for Agriculture Mohanbhai Kundaria had informed that out of 1,109 cases, 986 were reported from Maharashtra, 84 from Telangana and 29 from Jharkhand. 
 
In 2013, 879 farmers had committed suicide, and in 2012 the cases of farmer suicides were 1,046, according to the data shared by Kundaria. 
 
The compensation announced by the government is also not helping the farmers as in most of the cases either the amount does not reach the farmers or it is paltry, adding salt to their wounds. 
 
As per Skymet, which has quoted BBC news, since 1995, nearly 3,00,000 farmers in India have ended their lives. 
 
This video is a reminder to the Centre as well as state governments that farmer suicide is an important issue and many families are dependent on people, who are sole bread winners. 
 
Take a look and find out whether Dhunia’s father commits suicide or not. 
 
 
 
(Image/Video: YouTube)

Here is why PM Modi should watch this heart-wrenching video on farmers’ suicide

<ul><li>Regional parties could prove to be kingmakers if neither of the big two secure a majority</li><li>But an ‘abusive and degenerate’ campaign by the prime minister has alienated those who may hold the keys to power</li></ul> The political heat reached boiling point in India’s eastern state of West Bengal this week as Prime Minister <a href="https://www.scmp.com/topics/narendra-modi" class="link-text">Narendra Modi</a> locked horns with powerful regional leader Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.On Tuesday the fierce rivalry between their supporters spilled onto the streets, resulting in violence in Kolkata. The unrest forced the country’s election authorities to ban all rallies planned for Friday, the last day of campaigning. But 1,500km northwest of the city, a much more significant development was unfolding in New Delhi. Sonia Gandhi, a former president of the Indian National Congress, the main rival of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was sending out letters to smaller, regional parties in an attempt to stitch together a meeting for May 23 – the day India’s votes will be counted. Around the same time, another senior Congress leader said for the first time during the campaign that the party would not insist on occupying the post of prime minister if regional parties agreed to enter a governing coalition. Sonia Gandhi, a former president of the Indian National Congress, has been in touch with regional parties to set up a meeting. Photo: Handout These shifts attracted far less media attention but are a sign of things to come. Despite Modi’s popularity, May 23 may throw up a scenario in which regional parties hold the keys to power for the Congress and BJP. There are already enough indications that the idea isn’t just wishful thinking on the part of the country’s political opposition. Last week, with uncharacteristic candidness, a senior strategist from the BJP, Ram Madhav, conceded that the party might fall short of a majority in the Lok Sabha parliament and could require the support of smaller organisations. <h3 style="margin-bottom: 2.35714rem; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1.71429rem; line-height: 2.42857rem; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: inherit;"><a href="https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3010546/communism-india-dead-or-just-waiting-young-saviours" class="link-text">Communism in India: dead or just waiting for young saviours? </a></h3>BJP leaders had previously insisted the party was set to win legislative control handsomely. But soon after Madhav’s statement, allies beganadmitting, one after the other, that the party may not be able to govern alone. KINGMAKERS In India’s 543-seat parliament, a simple majority constitutes 272. The last legislative session saw the BJP clinch 282 – the first time in three decades that a single party had won control on its own. During those 30 years, regional parties saw their vote share rise to more than 40 per cent, a figure that has since remained constant. These groups bagged a combined 46.6 per cent of the vote in 2014 and 212 seats, despite Modi’s appeal. Supporters of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party take part in a silent protest in New Delhi following clashes between BJP supporters and the opposition in Kolkata. Photo: AFP According to data from the Election Commission, India has more than 2,300 political parties, of which seven are nationwide. Some 50 are classified as major regional parties, while the rest are smaller. Many believe the 2019 polls will see these parties surge both in terms of vote share and seats. “The 2014 elections were an aberration. Data clearly shows the regional parties’ stock has been rising in the last few decades – they have played the role of kingmakers for a few years now,” says Neelanjan Sircar, an assistant professor at Ashoka University whose research interests include the study of Indian election data. <h3 style="margin-bottom: 2.35714rem; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1.71429rem; line-height: 2.42857rem; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: inherit;"><a href="https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3010741/indian-election-explained-how-narendra-modis-good-days-turned" class="link-text">How Modi’s ‘good days’ turned bad </a></h3>Sensing their moment has arrived, a number of smaller organisations have been trying to form alliances among themselves to bolster their electoral chances. In southern India, K. Chandrashekar Rao, chief minister of the state of Telangana and leader of regional party Telangana Rashtra Samiti, has been meeting senior figures from various non-BJP and non-Congress parties to try and cobble together a smaller post-poll alliance, which some dub a “southern front”. MODI: AWKWARD PARTNER With these potential link-ups looming, the ability of Modi and his BJP to garner more allies is under a cloud. In the last five years, the prime minister’s handling of his alliance partners has been shoddy – at least 16 parties have left the coalition and others have expressed unease. Modi’s campaign this year has also included personal attacks on a slew of regional party leaders, from frequent scraps with Bengal’s Banerjee, whose party bagged 34 seats in 2014, to duels with Mayawati, a senior Dalit caste leader from Uttar Pradesh whose party, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), has put together an anti-BJP alliance that occupies 80 seats in parliament for the eastern state – the most important in the electoral landscape. Critics charge that Modi’s campaign has been aggressive and exploitative of communal divisions. Photo: Bloomberg Critics also charge that Modi’s campaign has been aggressive and exploitative of communal divisions, driving many regional allies away. BJP leaders have previously warned Muslims of dire consequences if they don’t vote for the party, and have routinely invoked Hindu religious rhetoric to garner votes. Raising more eyebrows has been the BJP’s decision to nominate Pragya Singh Thakur as a poll candidate. Thakur has been accused of involvement in a 2008 terrorist attack which killed six people in Malegaon, a town in western India dominated by its Muslim community. Modi defended the nomination, calling it a symbolic rebuff to claims by the Congress that Hindus are a terrorist civilisation. Thakur has also courted controversy on other counts. She recently said the assassin who ended the life of spiritual and political leader Mahatma Gandhi was a patriot. <h3 style="margin-bottom: 2.35714rem; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1.71429rem; line-height: 2.42857rem; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: inherit;"><a href="https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3010350/how-indians-living-overseas-are-working-get-narendra-modi-re" class="link-text">How overseas Indians could get Modi re-elected, without vot</a>ing</h3>“The entire campaign by the BJP, especially by Modi, has been rather abusive and degenerate. The talk of development has clearly taken a back seat in Modi’s speeches,” says Professor Sudha Pai, an author and retired academic in political science from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Many regional parties have electoral strategies that depend on social, inter-caste and interfaith alliances, so do not want to be associated with such a BJP campaign. SEEKING A POUND OF FLESH As India heads into the final stage of its seven-phase elections, the BJP continues to look strong enough to emerge as the single largest party. However, not many are willing to bet on whether the tally will be good enough to form a government. Crucial to the BJP’s fate are 59 seats to be put to a vote on Saturday in the central and eastern states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar. The BJP did well in these areas in 2014, as well as in West Bengal and Punjab. But if their fortunes go south in these polls, the possibility of political manoeuvring opens up. A senior strategist from the BJP, Ram Madhav (right), conceded that the party might fall short of a majority in parliament. Photo: EPA “If the regional parties and the Congress do well, then we will see a lot more parties gravitating towards the Congress, and they can all, together, form a government. The fact that the Congress has declared it is not insisting on the prime minister’s chair makes it easier for these parties,” Pai says. Another scenario could be one in which the BJP and its allies do better than the Congress and its partners, but both groups fall well short of a majority. This is where things could get tricky, many argue. Sircar at Ashoka University said: “If such a situation emerges, regional parties are going to extract their pound of flesh from either the BJP or the Congress. This could be in terms of ministries or funds for their state governments, among other things. Depending on where they get a better offer, the parties might veer towards that alliance.” <h3 style="margin-bottom: 2.35714rem; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1.71429rem; line-height: 2.42857rem; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: inherit;"><a href="https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3009682/exploiting-islamophobia-election-winning-tool-india" class="link-text">Exploiting Islamophobia is an election-winning tool in India </a></h3>Pai believes even if Congress were to win a slight edge in terms of numbers, most regional parties would prefer backing it to the BJP. “Modi has rubbed almost all these parties the wrong way, from unleashing raids on them to attacking them in the campaign. Modi, most of them believe, is not easy to do business with,” Pai said. CHALLENGES AHEAD The BJP has repeatedly stressed in its campaign that a multi-party administration of the kind mooted by the opposition parties would result in a “weak, corrupt government”. A new, non-Modi administration would definitely also mean a change in foreign policy, analysts say. “Foreign policy in successive Indian governments has largely been consistent. What changed with Modi was that he introduced a degree of personal vitality,” says Commodore C. Uday Bhaskar, director of the Society for Policy Studies, a Delhi-based think tank focused on public policy and international relations. But copying Modi’s tone might be difficult for future governments, Bhaskar says. February saw an unprecedented decision to conduct air strikes on suspected terrorist bases in Pakistan in response to a suicide attack that killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel. “The air strikes mark a new metric – it signifies that India has now breached a certain level of caution and reticence in relation to the use of transborder military power,” Bhaskar says. The aggressive posturing, he adds, might be hard to sustain for the new government unless there is a terror attack of a similar magnitude. More than foreign policy, the bigger challenge may be the economy. The fiscal deficit is growing, having touched 4.5 per cent of gross domestic product. Key industries such as automobile production are seeing a dip in business of as much as 16 per cent, signalling a widespread slowdown. Unemployment is at a 45-year high. Coupled with an ongoing drought in large parts of the country and severe agrarian distress, the new administration will face daunting problems.

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: BJP may need the allies Narendra Modi drove away

The gong’s been sounded for one of the most exciting battles in Indian elections. It will be a longdrawn out contest, to be held in nine phases, <keyword id="54921" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="40" keywordseo="spread">spread</keyword> over 36 days from April 7 to May 12. 
 The votes will be counted on May 16 and on that day or in the next few days it will become apparent who will form the next government — <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>, <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> or a surprise Third Front satrap. 
 Along with the <keyword id="6355187" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha">Lok Sabha</keyword> election, three states — <keyword id="37102" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword>, Odisha and <keyword id="48118" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Sikkim">Sikkim</keyword> — will also go to the polls. 
 
Assembly elections in Delhi will have to wait till a new government at the Centre has been formed. The nine days when polling will be held are April 7, 9, 10, 12, 17, 24 and 30 and May 7 and 12. The model code of conduct has kicked in with immediate effect. 
 
READ ALSO: <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lok-Sabha-elections-2014-Crucial-factors/articleshow/31509920.cms">Lok Sabha elections 2014: Crucial factors</a> 
 Indian elections have been essays in uncertainty since 1967 when <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword>’s hegemony faced its first serious challenge. However, indications are that the coming election may be even more exciting. While Congress and <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> are locked in a gladiatorial contest, the entry of <keyword id="6356115" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="AAP">AAP</keyword> has inserted an X factor in the battle. 
 
Going by opinion polls, Congress seems to be heading for its worst-ever performance with some estimates indicating that its tally may shrink to double digits. If that were to happen, the transition of the Congress leadership to Rahul Gandhi could become a wrenching process. 
 
BJP appears poised to make big gains this time. Narendra Modi’s arrival has energized the party’s base and triggered hopes of a comeback after a decade-long power drought at the Centre . Unless BJP falls victim to its historical inability to live up to its promise, this Modi-led resurgence, coupled with a deep disenchantment with Congress, raise the possibility of his rightwing, growth-centric political model spreading to new constituencies. 
 
 The <keyword id="6354944" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Aam-Aadmi-Party">Aam Aadmi Party</keyword>’s stunning debut in Delhi has been a testimony to its success in tapping into the popular resentment against established parties in a remarkably short time. The coming election will show to what extent this fledgling party led by <keyword id="260213" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Arvind-Kejriwal">Arvind Kejriwal</keyword> can convert its appeal into votes in other states. What’s , however, already apparent is that AAP is fast becoming a thorn in BJP’s flesh — the party it is now targeting after having routed Congress in Delhi. 
 
Soon-to-be-born states, FB, Twitter add zing to 2014 polls 
 
It has been reported that Kejriwal will contest from Varanasi if Modi fights from there. And on Wednesday, he was in Gujarat , queering Modi’s pitch in his home state. 
 This election will also be different because of the spread of social media as a political tool. If the 2004 polls saw parties using mobile phones to reach out to voters, this poll will see <keyword id="6354576" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Facebook">Facebook</keyword>, Twitter and various apps being used to mobilize the techsavvy among 149.5 million new voters. 
 
The assembly election in Andhra Pradesh carries the possibility of two new parties forming governments in the about-to-be-born states of Seemandhra and Telangana. YSR Congress and Telangana Rashtra Samiti respectively are regarded as the frontrunners for the two states which will come into being after June. 
 
 
 Among the states, UP and <keyword id="30033" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Bihar">Bihar</keyword> will vote on six days; <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword> and Jammu &amp; Kashmir on five; <keyword id="6354915" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Assam">Assam</keyword>, <keyword id="43945" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Chhattisgarh">Chhattisgarh</keyword>, <keyword id="6360371" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Jharkhand">Jharkhand</keyword>, <keyword id="6355554" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Madhya-Pradesh">Madhya Pradesh</keyword> and Maharashtra on three; and Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha , Rajasthan and Tripura on two days. There will be a single-day poll in Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, <keyword id="6358126" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Himachal-Pradesh">Himachal Pradesh</keyword>, Karnataka, Kerala, <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>, <keyword id="44522" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Uttarakhand">Uttarakhand</keyword> and Goa, a majority of northeastern states and Union territories including Delhi. 
 Announcing the schedule, chief election commissioner V S Sampath, flanked by election commissioners V S <keyword id="153539" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Brahma">Brahma</keyword> and <keyword id="141382" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Nasim-Zaidi">Nasim Zaidi</keyword>, appealed to all political parties and candidates to “uphold the peerless democratic traditions by maintaining high standards of political discourse and fair play in the course of their election campaigns”. Sampath said, “We appeal to the leaders of all political parties, especially their star campaigners , to refrain from using language that is against decorum and decency”.

You Searched For "drought in Telangana" and got 12 results

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