In cricket terms, the battleground of Gujarat in the 2024 general elections can be seen as a match between a powerful team with strong fast bowlers and aggressive batters, against weaker opponents who have suffered defeats in the previous two seasons of 2019 and 2014. Arguably, the only point of interest and speculation among experts, commentators, and viewers of the match appears to be the margin of victory.

Source: BJP scores early run in Gujarat but 2 north seats may spin chance for Congress

During the 2019 poll campaign, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had gone to voters with the “Chowkidar **** ***” slogan, which ultimately proved counterproductive for the opposition alliance. This time round, his ally and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has been taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a 1990s’ Bollywood number, “Tum to dhokebaaz ho, wada karke bhool jaate ho.”

Source: Jingle vs jungle jibe: Tejashwi Yadav’s musical counter to PM Modi

Kshatriya protests in Gujarat, particularly against Rajya Sabha member Parshottam Rupala, have not significantly impacted BJP's electoral strategies. These agitations were brought under control once two of the three key people behind them — Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakor — joined BJP. The party's focus on consolidating Patidar support and uniting lower castes minimizes the threat posed by the ongoing caste-related agitation.

Source: Why BJP stood firm when Kshatriyas protested in Gujarat

Eight years after the PhD student Rohith Vemula died by suicide due to alleged caste-related discrimination at the University of Hyderabad, the Telangana Police has submitted a closure report stating that no one was responsible for his death and that Vemula did not belong to the Dalit community. The closure report mentions that there is insufficient evidence to accuse the former vice chancellor.

Source: Telangana cops close Vemula case, say no one to blame for his suicide

Union home minister Amit Shah accused Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar of allowing the JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna to leave the country, adding he said immediate action could have harmed the Congress party. Amit Shah highlighted that Shivakumar, who is the deputy chief minister, belongs to the same community as Revanna, the vokkaliga community.

Source: DK Shivakumar let fellow Vokkaliga Prajwal flee, Amit Shah says

Three Indians arrested in Canada, linked to hit squad hired by Indian govt to kill pro-Khalistan separatist. All the accused were arrested in operations in two provinces - Alberta and Ontario. Charged with first-degree murder, they arrived on temporary visas after 2021, associated with criminal groups in Punjab & Haryana.

Source: Canada cops arrest three ‘hit squad’ member for Nijjar killing

Kolkata Knight Riders' bowling attack worked cohesively to secure a 24-run victory against five-time champions Mumbai Indians in an IPL match on Friday. This marked KKR's first away win in Mumbai in 12 years. The last time they won there, team owner Shah Rukh Khan had a dispute with security staff, resulting in a three-year ban from the venue. KKR's win brought their total to 14 points and kept them in the running for a top-two finish.

Source: 'There are a lot of questions, but....': Pandya

Source: Lok Sabha elections: Why Rahul Gandhi opted for Rae Bareli and not Amethi

SPC May 3, 2024 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook
SPC 1630Z Day 1 Outlook

Day 1 Convective Outlook  
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1137 AM CDT Fri May 03 2024

Valid 031630Z - 041200Z

...THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR
WEST-CENTRAL TEXAS...

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR PORTIONS OF
THE CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS...

...SUMMARY...
Giant hail, a few tornadoes, and severe gusts are possible over
parts of west-central Texas this afternoon and evening.

...Southern Great Plains...
Visible satellite imagery and morning surface analysis shows a very
moist airmass across the Edwards Plateau northward to a residual
effective boundary draped northwest to southeast across the TX South
Plains into central TX.  Near and south of the boundary, low-level
moisture approaching the daily climatological maximum for several
raob sites (reference 12z DRT, BRO, CRP) will contribute to a large
moisture reservoir across west TX by mid-late afternoon.  A
north-south dryline intersecting the differential heating
zone/residual boundary will help focus thunderstorm development
later this afternoon/evening.  Insolation through peak heating will
contribute to very large to extreme buoyancy (3000-4000+ J/kg
MLCAPE) across the Enhanced Risk area.  The nose of a westerly
250-mb speed max (70-90 kt) will move into west TX later this
afternoon/evening acting to elongate hodographs.  Expecting heating
and weak convergence in the vicinity of the aforementioned surface
boundaries to contribute to a weakened cap by mid afternoon.  Widely
scattered to scattered storms are expected to develop through the
early evening according to the latest model guidance.  Large to
giant hail (max size 3-4+ inches in diameter), a few tornadoes, and
severe gusts are possible across the TX South Plains extending
southeastward into portions of the Big Country.  Depending on
storm-scale interactions and local augmentation of the low-level
wind profile, a strong tornado cannot be ruled out, but uncertainty
at these scales precludes a delineated risk area.  Some upscale
growth into a severe cluster is expected across west-central TX this
evening with severe gusts perhaps becoming the primary hazard late.

...Central Plains...
No change in forecast thinking for a large hail/severe gust risk
area across the central Plains.  Though nowhere nearly as moist as
the TX outlook area, a diurnally destabilized plume of moist
advection should support a secondary relative max in severe
potential along/ahead of the cold front and dryline from parts of
eastern CO to western/northern KS and southern NE.  Convection
should develop by mid/late afternoon in a regional convergence
maximum near and northeast of the surface low, with MLCINH weakened
by favorable diurnal heating.  Surface dewpoints in the 40s to low
50s F should be common, with steep surface-500-mb lapse rates,
500-1000 J/kg MLCAPE and well-mixed subcloud layers. 
Effective-shear magnitudes around 40-50 kt indicate potential for
organized convection -- both in quasi-linear form near the front and
initially discrete (but later merging upscale) off the dryline. 
Though activity will encounter a more-stable boundary layer with
time and eastward extent across KS/NE, at least marginal severe-gust
potential may last overnight as far eastward as parts of the
Missouri Valley region.

..Smith/Barnes/Squitieri.. 05/03/2024

Read more
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk_1630.html

SPC - No watches are valid as of Fri May 3 16:42:02 UTC 2024
No watches are valid as of Fri May 3 16:42:02 UTC 2024.
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/

SPC - No MDs are in effect as of Fri May 3 16:42:02 UTC 2024
No Mesoscale Discussions are in effect as of Fri May 3 16:42:02 UTC 2024.
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/

SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook

Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook  
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0945 AM CDT Fri May 03 2024

Valid 031700Z - 041200Z

An Elevated risk area has been introduced to portions of southeast
New Mexico. Morning surface observations and 12 UTC soundings from
ABQ and EPZ show very dry conditions at/near the surface with RH
values generally in the teens to low 20s across parts of far
southwest TX and south-central NM. This air mass should spread
northeast behind an eastward migrating dryline this afternoon. Weak
mid and upper-level winds will limit the overall magnitude of the
fire weather potential, but ensemble guidance shows reasonably high
confidence of 15-20 mph winds co-located with the driest conditions.
Furthermore, recent fuel guidance suggests ERCs generally reside in
the 80-90th percentile across this region after several days of
limited rainfall, which should support the fire weather concern.
Elevated conditions are also expected further north into
south-central CO, but will be more localized and driven by
terrain-induced winds.

..Moore.. 05/03/2024

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1225 AM CDT Fri May 03 2024/

...Synopsis...
A low-amplitude shortwave trough will move through northern Mexico
today and eject into West Texas by early tomorrow morning. A weak
surface trough is expected to develop in the southern High Plains as
a result. Portions of the Southwest will experience dry and breezy
conditions for period during the afternoon. Given the short duration
of these conditions, only locally elevated fire weather concerns are
expected.

...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product...

Read more
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/fwdy1.html