The Hindu Editorial (​Welfare and distress) – Mar 26, 2026

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The Hindu Editorial (​Welfare and distress) – Mar 26, 2026:

1. welfare (noun) – government support or financial aid provided to citizens in need; social security, public assistance, social wellbeing.
2. distress (noun) – a state of extreme difficulty, hardship, or suffering; hardship, adversity, trouble.
3. run-up to (noun) – the period of time leading up to an important event; prelude, lead-up, preliminary.
4. Assembly (noun) – a body of people elected to make laws and decisions for a state; legislature, parliament, council.
5. The Opposition (noun) – a political party or group of parties that opposes the government; dissenters, adversaries, rival parties.
6. undermine (verb) – subvert, weaken, sabotage.
7. development (noun) – growth, progress, advancement, improvement.
8. pitch (noun) – a speech, proposition, or argument made to persuade voters or supporters; proposition, argument, appeal.
9. stand on the threshold (phrase) – to be at the beginning of a new or important event or situation; be on the brink, be on the verge, be at the start.
10. threshold (noun) – the starting point of an experience, event, or new state; brink, verge, cusp.
11. high-stakes (adjective) – involving a high risk of failure or significant consequences and outcomes; critical, crucial, high-risk.
12. mark (verb) – indicate, signify, represent, denote.
13. inflection point (noun) – a time of significant change in a situation; a turning point, watershed, crossroads.
14. break tradition with (phrase) – to do something differently from how it has historically or usually been done; deviate from the norm, go against the grain.
15. consecutive (adjective) – successive, sequential, uninterrupted.
16. seek (verb) – to try to achieve or obtain something; aim for, pursue, attempt.
17. term (noun) – a fixed or limited period for which an elected office or position is held; tenure, stint, period.
18. beset (verb) – to be troubled or threatened persistently; plague, trouble, afflict.
19. a slew of (noun phrase) – a large number or quantity of something; a lot of, a multitude of, a host of.
20. allegation (noun) – accusation, charge, assertion.
21. rebellion (noun) – open resistance or opposition to an established authority or party leadership; defiance, disobedience, mutiny.
22. ranks (noun) – the members of a group or political organization; membership, cadre.
23. high-profile (adjective) – attracting a lot of attention or publicity; prominent, well-known, conspicuous.
24. defection (noun) – the conscious abandonment of allegiance or duty to a political party; desertion, switching allegiances, betrayal.
25. unfold (verb) – develop, emerge, evolve, happen, occur, transpire.
26. terrain (noun) – a specific sphere of operation or landscape; domain, landscape, sphere.
27. political terrain (noun) – the current state, dynamics, and environment of politics; political landscape, political sphere, political arena.
28. count on (phrasal verb) – to rely or depend on someone or something; rely on, depend on, bank on.
29. perceptible (adjective) – noticeable, detectable, visible.
30. undercurrent (noun) – an underlying feeling or influence that is not overtly expressed but is deeply felt; underlying feeling, hidden tendency, undertone.
31. anti-incumbency (noun) – a sentiment of dissatisfaction or opposition toward the current ruling government or elected officials; anti-establishment feeling, dissatisfaction with the government.
32. sign (noun) – indication, evidence.
33. evident (adjective) – clearly seen or understood; obvious, clear, apparent.
34. outperform (verb) – to perform better than someone or something else; surpass, outdo, eclipse.
35. notch up (phrasal verb) – to achieve or record a score, win, or specific amount; score, achieve, register.
36. alliance (noun) – coalition, partnership, bloc.
37. field (verb) – to put forward a candidate to stand in an election; nominate, deploy, introduce.
38. handful (noun) – a small number or quantity; a few.
39. defect (verb) – to abandon one’s political party or cause in favor of an opposing one; desert, change sides, switch allegiance.
40. agony (noun) – extreme physical or mental suffering; distress, anguish, pain.
41. cadre (noun) – a small group of highly trained or committed individuals in an organization or political party; activists, workers, members.
42. even as (phrase) – at the very same time that; while, just as, during the time that.
43. set back (phrasal verb) – to delay or hinder the progress of someone or something; delay, hinder, impede.
44. mutiny (noun) – an open rebellion against the proper authorities, especially by members of a political group against their leaders; rebellion, revolt, uprising.
45. candidate (noun) – a person who is nominated for an election; applicant, contender, nominee.
46. counter (verb) – to speak or act in opposition to; oppose, resist, dispute.
47. rhetoric (noun) – language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience, often lacking in sincerity; discourse, oratory, empty promises.
48. queer the pitch (phrase) – to secretly spoil someone’s plans or chances of success; interfere, disrupt, ruin the plans.
49. bipolar (adjective) – having or relating to two distinct, often opposing, centers of power or political alliances; two-sided, dual, polarized.
50. polity (noun) – an organized society or a state as a political entity; political system.
51. wrest (verb) – take by force, seize, snatch.
52. deft (adjective) – skillful, clever, proficient.
53. election engineering (noun) – the strategic and manipulative planning of electoral dynamics to secure a victory; political maneuvering, electoral strategy, poll management.
54. drop (verb) – decrease, fall, decline.
55. debut (noun) – first appearance, introduction, launch.
56. build on (phrasal verb) – to use an achievement or success as a base for further development; use as a foundation, develop from, expand on.
57. shift (noun) – change, alteration, transition.
58. landscape (noun) – the distinctive features of a given sphere of activity; scenario, environment, setting.
59. political landscape (noun) – the overall scenario and dynamics of the political environment at a given time; political scenario, political environment, political climate.
60. draw (verb) – to attract or pull someone or something toward oneself; attract, pull, lure.
61. disenchanted (adjective) – no longer believing in the value of something; disillusioned, disappointed, dissatisfied.
62. broadbase (verb) – to widen or expand the foundational support or scope of an entity; expand, extend, diversify.
63. reach (noun) – influence, grasp, spread.
64. align with (phrasal verb) – join forces with, ally with, associate with.
65. emerging (adjective) – developing, rising, growing.
66. outfit (noun) – a group of people undertaking a particular activity together, such as a political party; organization, group, faction.
67. Twenty20 (noun) – a registered political party in Kerala formed in 2015 as the corporate social responsibility arm of the Anna-Kitex group, known for governing local bodies with a mandate focused on regional development and welfarism.
68. claim (verb) – to state or assert that something is the case; assert, state, profess.
69. foothold (noun) – a secure position; secure position, grip, base.
70. expand (verb) – enlarge, increase, broaden.
71. Catholic Christian (noun) – members of the Christian faith who belong to the Roman Catholic Church or related Eastern Catholic Churches.
72. central Travancore (noun) – a geographic and cultural region in south-central Kerala known for its distinct demographic composition and political significance.
73. largely (adverb) – to a great extent or on the whole; mostly, mainly, primarily.
74. incumbent (adjective) – currently holding an office or position; sitting, current, present.
75. legislator (noun) – a person who makes laws or is a member of a legislative body; lawmaker, representative.
76. project (verb) – to present or promote a particular image or view; present, portray, showcase.
77. continuity (noun) –  stability, persistence.
78. rebut (verb) – to claim or prove that evidence or an accusation is false; refute, deny, disprove.
79. claim (noun) – assertion, allegation, declaration.
80. bank on (phrasal verb) – to rely confidently on someone or something; rely on, depend on, count on.
81. decade-long (adjective) – lasting for a continuous period of ten years; ten-year.
82. capitalise on (phrasal verb) – to take the chance to gain advantage from a situation; take advantage of, exploit, benefit from.
83. perceived (adjective) – interpreted or looked upon in a particular way; supposed, regarded, seen.
84. uncertainty (noun) – the state of being unsure or unknown; unpredictability, unreliability, doubt.
85. interplay (noun) – the way in which two or more things have an effect on each other; interaction, exchange, dynamics.
86. demographics (noun) – statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it; societal composition.
87. key (adjective) – of crucial importance; essential, crucial, major.
88. variable (noun) – an element, feature, or factor that is liable to vary or change; factor, element, parameter.
89. likely (adverb) – probably, presumably, undoubtedly.
90. outcome (noun) – result, consequence, conclusion.
91. constituency (noun) – a body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body; voting area, electorate.
92. foremost (adjective) – most prominent in importance, or position; primary, leading.
93. alignment (noun) – an arrangement in which two or more political groups or demographic factions agree to work together; coalition, alliance, association.
94. constitute (verb) – comprise, make up, form.
95. electorate (noun) – all the people in a country or area who are entitled to vote in an election; voters, voting public, constituency.
96. Sabarimala gold theft (noun) – an ongoing controversy and multi-agency investigation by the SIT and ED concerning the alleged misappropriation of gold-plated artefacts and gold from the Dwarapalaka idols at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala.
97. land encroachment (noun) – the unauthorized occupation or illegal use of land belonging to the government or another entity.
98. encroachment (noun) – intrusion, invasion, infringement.
99. agrarian distress (noun) – severe economic hardship and crises faced by farmers and individuals in the agricultural sector; agricultural crisis, farming hardship, rural distress.
100. agrarian (adjective) – agricultural, farming, rural.
101. political Islam (noun) – a political ideology that seeks to base government and society on Islamic principles; Islamism, Islamic political movement.
102. shape (verb) – to have a significant influence on the development of something; influence, determine, mould.
103. sentiment (noun) – feeling, attitude, opinion.

Note:

1. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are our personal work. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purposes only and they may vary in a different context. 

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