The Hindu Editorial (Flagrant fraud) – Feb 22, 2024

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The Hindu Editorial (Flagrant fraud) – Feb 22, 2024:

flagrant (adjective) – shockingly noticeable, evident, glaring, blatant, obvious, conspicuous, transparent, palpable, disgraceful.
stratagem (noun) – scheme, tactic, trick, plan, manoeuvre.
alliance (noun) – group, coalition, union, partnership.
backfire (verb) – rebound/boomerang, come back, have an adverse effect.
microcosm (noun) – a thing (a group, a community, a place or a situation) that has all characteristics & aspects of something much larger; a little world, miniature universe.
of the sort (phrase) – like something mentioned.
malpractice (noun) – misconduct, wrongdoing, unethical behaviour, unprofessionalism.
undermine (verb) – weaken, subvert, sabotage, damage.
duly (adverb) – properly, correctly, appropriately, fittingly, rightly.
expose (verb) – reveal, disclose, show, exhibit, uncover, betray.
malaise (noun) – trouble, disorder, disquiet, disease, infirmity, depression, unhappiness, doldrums .
recognise (verb) – realize, perceive, identify, acknowledge, discern.
scene (noun) – incident, event, episode, happening.
official (noun) – officer, functionary, executive, bureaucrat, dignitary, mandarin.
steal (verb) – loot, rob, appropriate, misappropriate.
fraudulent (adjective) – dishonest, unlawful, unethical, unprincipled.
means (noun) – way, method, manner, technique, procedure.
Returning Officer (noun) – A Returning Officer is responsible for overseeing the election in a constituency. The Returning Officer’s duties include accepting and scrutinising nomination forms, publishing the affidavits of candidates, allotting symbols to the contesting candidates, preparing the list of contesting candidates, preparing the EVMs and VVPATs, training polling personnel, designating counting centres, and counting the votes and declaring the result.
deface (verb) – damage, impair, spoil, disfigure, vandalise, disfigure intentionally.
ballot (noun) – the piece of paper used to record a vote.
ballot (noun) – vote, poll.
ruse (noun) – ploy, tactic, trick, stratagem, cunning plan, manoeuvre, machination, smokescreen.
validly (adverb) – justifiably, legitimately, reasonably.
cast (verb) – register, record, vote.
in one’s favour (phrase) – to one’s advantage.
affiliation (noun) – connection, relationship, association, partnership, attachment, link.
illegality (noun) – an illegal act/practice.
ultimately (adverb) – finally, in the end, eventually.
apex court (noun) – supreme court.
prosecute (verb) – take to court, bring an action against, take legal action against, accuse, charge.
controversially (adverb) – dubiously, confusedly, unsupportedly.
rule (verb) – pronounce, determine, decide, direct.
sought past and past participle of seek (verb) – try, aim, attempt.
brazen (it) out (phrasal verb) – to act or behave confidently & shamelessly (even after doing something wrong & also by not admitting that); put a bold face on it, be defiant, be unashamed.
claim (verb) – state, insist, allege, argue.
claim (noun) – statement, allegation, argument, contention.
defacement (noun) – damage, impairment, disfigurement, vandalism, disfiguration.
on the eve of (phrase) – a day/evening/period of time just before a particular event.
hearing (noun) – inquiry, investigation, examination, legal proceedings.
alive to (adjective) – aware of, alert to, sensitive to, conscious of, mindful of, watchful of, cognizant of, familiar with.
possibility (noun) – chance, likelihood, option.
win over (phrasal verb) – persuade, convince, prevail (on or upon), influence, press someone into, bring someone around, inveigle.
development (noun) – turn of events, incident, occurrence, happening.
impede (verb) – obstruct, hinder, hamper, block, interpret.
functioning (noun) – operation performance, service, work.
set at naught (phrase) – disregard, defy, refuse or disdain.
subterfuge (noun) – deception, trickery, tactic, cunning/cheating (action), intrigue.
go ahead (phrasal verb) – continue, go on, proceed, advance, move on (with a plan or activity).
take into account (phrase) – consider, think about, factor in, take account of, take into consideration.
setback (noun) – problem, difficulty, issue.
resort to (phrasal verb) – have recourse to, make use of, use, utilize, adopt.
subvert (verb) – undermine, weaken, sabotage, damage, demolish, disrupt.
bloc (noun) – group.
forge (verb) – form, create, establish, set up, put together.
underscore (verb) – underline, emphasise, highlight, stress, call/draw attention to.
arithmetic (noun) – the use of numbers in counting and calculation.
chemistry (noun) – an intense feeling of connection.
loss of face (phrase) – humiliation, embarrassment, shame, disgrace, loss of pride, slap in the face.
indeed (adverb) – in fact, actually.
fit (adjective) – suitable, relevant, pertinent, appropriate.
invoke (verb) – cite, mention, refer to, point to, adduce, turn to, resort to.
Extraordinary Power to the Supreme Court (or) Article 142 of the Constitution (noun) – It provides a unique power to the Supreme Court, to do “complete justice” between the parties, where, at times, the law or statute may not provide a remedy. In those situations, the court can extend itself to put an end to a dispute in a manner that would fit the facts of the case.
prosecution (noun) – legal action, legal proceeding, legal case.
establish (verb) – prove, demonstrate, indicate, determine, denote, manifest.
behest (noun) – instruction, command, order, demand, insistence.