PARAGRAPH, WORDS AND MEANING

0
71

PARAGRAPH, WORDS AND MEANING

PARAGRAPH OF THE DAY –

Karnataka elections: homestretch before Lok Sabha 2019 –

Karnataka was supposed to be the Bharatiya Janata Party’s point of entry into southern India. But after its historic victory in the 2008 Assembly election, the party lost its way in the State, and the Congress staged a comeback five years later. Now, far from expanding to the neighbouring States, the party is struggling to return to power in Karnataka in the face of a determined defensive battle by the politically savvy Congress Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah. A relatively new entrant to the Congress, he has created his own space in the faction-ridden party and in the wider public sphere by traversing caste divides and resisting communal olarization. Thus, the single-phase election on May 12 could witness a face-off between the BJP and the Congress, with the Janata Dal (Secular) a distant third. The BJP’s challenge is mounted by the old warhorse B.S. Yeddyurappa, its most valuable asset and arguably also its greatest liability. If he won it for the BJP in 2008, he also ensured a defeat in 2013. After he resigned as Chief Minister following allegations of involvement in illegal mining and land deals, Mr. Yeddyurappa tried to run the government through handpicked men. When there was resistance to his meddling from the outside, he formed his own party, the Karnataka Janata Paksha, to down the BJP in 2013, but returned in time to help the BJP perform creditably in the 2014 election. In the absence of other evidence, it must have seemed to the BJP’s national leadership that it could win only with the active assistance of Mr. Yeddyurappa. Mr. Siddaramaiah has used divisive tactics of his own. His government aided demands for religious minority status for Lingayats, a Shaivite section from which Mr. Yeddyurappa, and by extension the BJP, draw substantial support. And he indulged regional sentiments by unveiling a Karnataka State flag. Both decisions are awaiting the approval of the Centre, but the Congress believes that irrespective of what the BJP-led government at the Centre does, the dividends are for it to reap. Agitations against the use of Hindi in Metro stations are also being turned to the disadvantage of the BJP, which is trying to refurbish its image as a Hindu-Hindi party by stressing solely on the Hindu aspect. Karnataka will not be the last State to go to the polls before the Lok Sabha election of 2019, but it holds great importance for the campaigns of the Congress and the BJP in the run-up to 2019. A loss for either will be a dampener, and a win a great morale booster. Leaders of both parties need to convince themselves, more than anyone else, that they have their nose ahead as they near the homestretch.

WORDS AND MEANING –

1) Staged

Meaning: Cause (something dramatic or unexpected) to happen.

Example: “the President’s attempt to stage a comeback”

2) Defensive

Meaning: Used or intended to defend or protect.

Example: “defensive barriers”

Synonyms: Protective, Screening

3) Savvy

Meaning: Shrewd and knowledgeable; having common sense and good judgement.

Example: “Bob is a savvy veteran who knows all the tricks”

Synonyms: Shrewd, Astute

Antonyms: Stupid, Gullible

4) Entrant

Meaning: A person or group that enters or takes part in something.

Example: “the prize will be awarded to the entrant who wins the tiebreak”

Synonyms: Beginner, Fresher

Antonyms: Veteran

5) Traversing

Meaning: To move or travel through an area.; extend across or through.

Example: Stanley traversed the continent from west to east.

6) Polarisation

Meaning: Division into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs.

Example: “the polarization of society between rich and poor”

7) Face-off

Meaning: A direct confrontation between two people or groups.

Example: “last night’s vice presidential face-off”

8) Mounted

Meaning: Organize and initiate (a campaign or other course of action).

Example: “the company had successfully mounted takeover bids”

Synonyms: Organized, Prepared

9) Warhorse

Meaning: An old and experienced politician, soldier, or athlete, especially one who is still active.

Example: Manchester City’s old warhorse, still fighting fit at 36, was sent off for fouling after half an hour.

Synonyms: Experienced

10) Handpicked

Meaning: Select carefully with a particular purpose in mind.

Example: “a small hand-picked group of MPs”

Synonyms: Choice, Elite

Antonyms: Random

11) Meddling

Meaning: Interfere in something that is not one’s concern.

Example: “I don’t want him meddling in our affairs”

Synonyms: Interfere, Intrude

12) Divisive

Meaning: Tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people.

Example: “the highly divisive issue of abortion”

Synonyms: Isolating, Discordant

13) Unveiling

Meaning: Show or announce publicly for the first time.

Example: “the Home Secretary has unveiled plans to crack down on crime”

Synonyms: Reveal, Present

14) Refurbish

Meaning: Renovate and redecorate (something, especially a building).

Example: “the premises have been completely refurbished in our corporate style”

Synonyms: Renovate, Recondition

15) Solely

Meaning: Not involving anyone or anything else; only.

Example: “he is solely responsible for any debts the company may incur”

Synonyms: Only, Simply

16) Run-up

Meaning: The final period of time before an important event.

Example: Everyone is very busy during the run-up to publication.

17) Dampener

Meaning: A thing that has a restraining or subduing effect.

Example: “television and booze, those twin dampeners of the revolutionary spirit”

18) Morale

Meaning: The confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group at a particular time.

Example: “the team’s morale was high”

Synonyms: Confidence, Self-confidence

19) Nose ahead

Meaning: To get into a position that is slightly in front of someone or something else:

Example: The company has nosed ahead of its closest rivals, claiming 33% market share.

20) Homestretch

Meaning: The last part of an activity or campaign.

Example: “heading down the home stretch to Tuesday’s final”