In Focus by The Hindu

The Left Front has been in power in Kerala since 2016. It is looking for a historic third consecutive term in power. But can it overcome the anti-incumbency that has built up over these ten years? The poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and in the recent  local body elections might indicate that the LDF (Left Democratic Front) faces an uphill task. Does this mean that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is the frontrunner? Many, however, would argue that the BJP is also a key player. Does that mean the electoral field in Kerala is now tripolar? What conclusions can we draw from the patterns of ticket distribution by the three major parties? Will the BJP’s Christian outreach work? What would it mean nationally if the Left were to lose in the only state where it’s in power? We speak with Dr J Prabhash, former professor of Political Science and former Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kerala. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ashok Vardhan Shetty, former IAS and member of the Kurian Joseph committee on Union–State relations, explains why states should reclaim powers. He discusses the philosophical and empirical case for decentralization. He explores resilience, capacity-building by doing, federalism’s role in policy innovation, and why education and many functions should return to states.

Kavita Chacko, Research Head for India at the World Gold Council, explains market flows, ETFs and investor behavior. B. Bhagwan Das, former economics professor, offers macro views on currency, central banks and trade. They explore why gold fell amid dollar strength and liquidity needs. They debate gold versus the dollar for safety and discuss allocations, central-bank buying and whether the dip is a buying opportunity.

Dr Arvind Kasthuri, head of St John’s Geriatric Centre and professor of community health, speaks on India’s fast‑ageing population and looming care needs. He discusses shortages of geriatric specialists, gaps in medical training, the pyramid of older‑person needs, weak community and public health systems, adult immunization, mental health, social isolation, and scaling trained caregivers.

Dr M R Rajagopal, palliative care leader and policy advocate, explains living wills and advanced medical directives. He outlines legal basics and why directives restore dignity in end‑of‑life care. He discusses ICU practices that can prolong suffering and practical steps for drafting and discussing your directive with family and medical proxies.

Professor Ashwini Deshpande, an economist focused on gender and labour, and Sanjoy Ghose, a senior Supreme Court advocate in labour law, debate paternity leave. They discuss why paternity leave matters for children and how caregiving norms limit women’s work. They examine legal protections, risks of discrimination, international models, and practical design and implementation challenges for India.

Vijay Lokapally, veteran sports journalist and commentator, breaks down the FIFA World Cup dilemma as geopolitics intrudes on sport. He outlines how security, travel and logistics are strained. He discusses the hurdles of relocating matches, the credibility risks for organisers and the sporting loss if a top Asian team cannot participate.

Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor at The Hindu, offers concise geopolitical context on the Iran conflict. He unpacks Trump's tactical five-day pause and whether it signals de-escalation. He explores who might have mediated talks, Iran's retaliation patterns, US–Israel coordination, domestic political pressures shaping decisions, and the limitations of targeted strikes.

Air Marshal Ravi Kapoor (Retd.), former AOC-in-C of Central Air Command, brings air‑defense and logistics expertise. He discusses why interceptors struggle against cheap drones. He explains production bottlenecks, costly missile usage, and fragile supply chains for critical minerals. He also outlines how strategic timing and China’s export control risks shape military readiness.

Mehdi Razmahang, an Iranian parliamentary researcher and policy analyst, explains Iran's mood under sustained strikes. He discusses infrastructure damage, targeted assassinations, and economic shocks. He outlines Iran's supply routes despite sanctions, what Tehran would seek in negotiations, and how India might secure maritime passage.