Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Jaipur gamble: On the Rajasthan Assembly elections

Jaipur gamble: On the Rajasthan Assembly elections

The stakes (दांव) are higher for the BJP in Rajasthan as the election is for it to lose

Rajasthan has a history of incumbent (current, existing, present (holder, bearer or occupant of an office)) governments losing power in the next election. The Congress government in Rajasthan led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is trying to buck that trend (go against the trend; move in the opposite direction; to have an opposing opinion from the majority (particularly in relation to financial matters)), while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is relying on (पर भरोसा) it to return to power, and simultaneously effect (प्रभाव) a change of leadership in the State. Both parties have internal issues to manage even as they face off (सामना करना) in a likely (संभावित) straight battle for a majority in the 200-strong State Assembly. Polling is on November 25. To Mr. Gehlot’s credit, he has pulled the Congress up from the trench ((literally) a deep and narrow hole in the ground; ditch, depression, excavation; (figuratively) a very difficult situation) with a blitzkrieg (German word literally means ‘lighting war’, ‘blitz’ means ‘lightning’ and ‘Krieg’ means ‘war’; rapid attack; a sudden, particularly violent and frightening military attack in order to achieve a quick victory) of new welfare (कल्याण) schemes and effective (प्रभावशाली) public outreach (the level of reaching out/activity/effort; involvement), blunting anti-incumbency (विरोधी लहर) and raising the hope of the cadres. Having averted (टालना, रोकना) the default (expected, normal, typical, usual, conventional) defeat, the Congress’s prospects (chances, possibilities, expectations, outlook, future) now depend on how well it selects candidates and gets its campaigning (अभियान) right in the last leg (stage, phase, part). Younger colleague and aspirant (आकांक्षी) for the top post Sachin Pilot has buried the hatchet and thrown his weight behind Mr. Gehlot in this battle. Reporting so far (अभी तक) indicates that while there is no anti-incumbency against the Chief Minister, individual Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of the Congress might be coming up against strong headwinds (विपरीत परिस्थितियों). This is a difficult situation for the party to tackle, and replacing the optimal (optimum, ​the best possible, most favourable, ideal, perfect) number of sitting MLAs with fresh faces will be a test of Mr. Gehlot’s storied (famed, fabulous, legendary, celebrated) political skills.

The BJP has been eager (उत्सुक) to shake off its dependence (निर्भरता) on former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, an assertive (confident, positive, bold, decisive, determined, dominant, authoritative, commanding) leader who commands (receive, get, obtain, secure, be given) her own following (a body of supporters/adherents; body of support, backing, patronage) that is independent (unconnected, unrelated, unassociated, unattached, separate) of the party. The central leadership of the party has made it clear that the party will not project (present, promote) a candidate for Chief Minister. Several of her confidantes (close associate, close friend, companion) have been denied ticket already, and more might face the axe (end, discontinuation, termination, cancellation, dismissal, discharge). The BJP has fielded (nominate, propose, put up (a candidate) to stand in an election) seven sitting ((of an elected representative) current, present, existing) Members of Parliament among the 41 candidates it has announced, and several of its leaders now nurture (cherish; raise, foster, develop, advance, promote, further, encourage) ambitions for the top post. Some of them have openly stated that a generational transition (change, transformation, adaptation) in the leadership of the party is underway (happening, ongoing, afoot, going on, in operation, in progress). The party hopes that this confusion is immaterial (pointless, irrelevant, immaterial, insignificant, unimportant, inappropriate, extraneous) in light of the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and could even help it. Ms. Raje will look for ways short of (other than, apart from, aside from, besides, except (for), without) an open (public, general, unrestricted, non-restrictive) rebellion (defiance, resistance, dissent, disobedience, nonconformity) to preserve (continue, keep up, conserve, maintain, prolong, take care of, safeguard, protect) her political standing (position, footing, importance, prominence, influence, weight) in the State and the party. Of the five States that are going to the polls next month, the BJP central leadership has the highest stakes in Rajasthan. The outcome in Rajasthan will have the highest influence (effect, impact, domination) on its strategy (plan of action (in order to achieve a more expansive set of political, economic, and security interests)) for the Lok Sabha election in 2024 too.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.(high) stakes (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दांव
English Meaning - (high-risk) competition, contest, battle, challenge.

2.rely on (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - पर भरोसा
English Meaning - depend on, count on, bank on.

3.effect (verb)

Hindi Meaning - प्रभाव
English Meaning - do, perform, carry out, bring about, carry through, accomplish.

4.face off (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - सामना करना
English Meaning - fight, oppose, compete with.

5.likely (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - संभावित
English Meaning - expected, probable, possible, prospective, plausible.

6.welfare (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कल्याण
English Meaning - a government program that provides (financial) assistance to individuals and families in need; social security, government/state benefit, public assistance.

7.effective (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - प्रभावशाली
English Meaning - successful, effectual, efficacious, productive, constructive.

8.anti-incumbency (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विरोधी लहर
English Meaning - a situation which is against elected officials currently in power; discontent against ruling government/ party in power.

9.avert (verb)

Hindi Meaning - टालना, रोकना
English Meaning - prevent, stop, avoid, ward off, forestall.

10.campaign (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अभियान
English Meaning - canvassing, electioneering, an act of soliciting (asking for/requesting) votes; an organized effort that seeks to influence the decision-making progress within a specific group.

11.aspirant (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आकांक्षी
English Meaning - seeker, candidate, contender.

12.so far (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - अभी तक
English Meaning - until now, up to this point, thus far, hitherto.

13.headwinds (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विपरीत परिस्थितियों
English Meaning - (in business) situations or conditions that make growth harder/difficult. Whereas tailwinds describe a situation or condition that will move growth, revenues, or profits higher.

14.eager (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - उत्सुक
English Meaning - strongly wanting/wishing, desirous of, intent on.

15.dependence (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निर्भरता
English Meaning - reliance.

16.gamble (noun)

English Meaning - risk, risky action, venture, chance (taken with the hope of victory).

17.incumbent (adjective)

English Meaning - current, existing, present (holder, bearer or occupant of an office).

18.buck that trend (phrase)

English Meaning - go against the trend; move in the opposite direction; to have an opposing opinion from the majority (particularly in relation to financial matters)

19.to one’s credit (phrase)

English Meaning - used to mention that someone deserves praise/admiration.

20.pull up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - improve (one’s situation).

21.trench (noun)

English Meaning - (literally) a deep and narrow hole in the ground; ditch, depression, excavation; (figuratively) a very difficult situation.

22.blitzkrieg (noun)

English Meaning - German word literally means ‘lighting war’, ‘blitz’ means ‘lightning’ and ‘Krieg’ means ‘war’; rapid attack; a sudden, particularly violent and frightening military attack in order to achieve a quick victory.

23.outreach (noun)

English Meaning - the level of reaching out/activity/effort; involvement.

24.blunt (verb)

English Meaning - reduce, diminish, decrease, moderate, weaken, tone down.

25.cadre (noun)

English Meaning - members of a (political) group.

26.default (adjective)

English Meaning - expected, normal, typical, usual, conventional.

27.prospects (noun)

English Meaning - chances, possibilities, expectations, outlook, future.

28.get (something) right (phrase)

English Meaning - to do (something) accurately/correctly

29.leg (noun)

English Meaning - stage, phase, part.

30.bury the hatchet (phrase)

English Meaning - try to repair problems (with someone after an argument or disagreement); mend fences, make peace with, be friends again, settle differences.

31.throw one’s weight behind (phrase)

English Meaning - to use one’s power (influence) to support someone/something.

32.come up against (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to face, be faced with, encounter, confront, deal with (a problem/difficulty).

33.optimal (adjective)

English Meaning - optimum, ​the best possible, most favourable, ideal, perfect.

34.storied (adjective)

English Meaning - famed, fabulous, legendary, celebrated.

35.shake off (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - get away from, leave behind, get rid of, throw off, dodge, outdistance.

36.assertive (adjective)

English Meaning - confident, positive, bold, decisive, determined, dominant, authoritative, commanding.

37.command (verb)

English Meaning - receive, get, obtain, secure, be given.

38.following (noun)

English Meaning - a body of supporters/adherents; body of support, backing, patronage.

39.independent (adjective)

English Meaning - unconnected, unrelated, unassociated, unattached, separate.

40.make clear (phrase)

English Meaning - explain, clarify, elucidate.

41.project (verb)

English Meaning - present, promote.

42.confidante (noun)

English Meaning - close associate, close friend, companion.

43.axe (noun)

English Meaning - end, discontinuation, termination, cancellation, dismissal, discharge.

44.field (verb)

English Meaning - nominate, propose, put up (a candidate) to stand in an election.

45.sitting (adjective)

English Meaning - (of an elected representative) current, present, existing.

46.nurture (verb)

English Meaning - cherish; raise, foster, develop, advance, promote, further, encourage.

47.transition (noun)

English Meaning - change, transformation, adaptation.

48.underway (adjective)

English Meaning - happening, ongoing, afoot, going on, in operation, in progress.

49.immaterial (adjective)

English Meaning - pointless, irrelevant, immaterial, insignificant, unimportant, inappropriate, extraneous.

50.in (the) light of (phrase)

English Meaning - taking into consideration, considering, taking into account, bearing in mind, keeping in mind, taking note of, in view of.

51.short of (phrase)

English Meaning - other than, apart from, aside from, besides, except (for), without.

52.open (adjective)

English Meaning - public, general, unrestricted, non-restrictive.

53.rebellion (noun)

English Meaning - defiance, resistance, dissent, disobedience, nonconformity.

54.preserve (verb)

English Meaning - continue, keep up, conserve, maintain, prolong, take care of, safeguard, protect.

55.standing (noun)

English Meaning - position, footing, importance, prominence, influence, weight.

56.influence (noun)

English Meaning - effect, impact, domination.

57.strategy (noun)

English Meaning - plan of action (in order to achieve a more expansive set of political, economic, and security interests).