NDTV TOP STORIES
1. On Day One of centre's new vaccination policy roll-out, 86.16 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered across the country in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day coverage till now. Data on government's CoWin website showed a total of 86,16,373 vaccine shots were administered on Monday. According to state governments' latest figures on Monday's vaccination drive, Madhya Pradesh administered 16,01,548 doses, Uttar Pradesh 6,74,546 doses, Rajasthan 4,30,439 doses and Maharashtra 3,78,945 doses. West Bengal administered 3,17,991 vaccine shots, Punjab 90,503 shots and Delhi 76,216 shots in a day. 2. Twenty-one cases of the Delta Plus Covid variant, the mutant version of the Delta variant that unleashed the devastating second wave of the pandemic, have been found in Maharashtra so far, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope says. The new variant has acquired a mutation linked with circumventing the body's immunity, scientists say, adding as of now it is not a cause for concern. 3. Poll strategist Prashant Kishor has ruled out any association with an opposition front to take on the BJP in the next general election. "I don't believe a Third or Fourth Front could emerge as a successfully challenge to the current dispensation," he tells NDTV. Mr Kishor believes that the 'tried and tested' Third Front model is archaic, and not suited to the current political dynamic. His dramatic clarification is meant to set at rest speculation that his meetings with Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar are meant to bring together a Third Front type gathering for the 2024 general elections. 4. NCP leader Sharad Pawar, who has called a meeting of opposition parties today, has clarified that it is 'not a third front meet'. 5. Navjot Singh Sidhu, whose revolt threatens to inflict major damage on the Congress as it fights for re-election in Punjab next year, has said that he was 'willing to work with Amarinder Singh' but added a condition for his in-house adversary. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is in Delhi for a second time to meet central Congress team amid the ongoing infighting in the party's state unit. 6. The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration is scheduled to meet today to discuss the centre's invitation for an all-party meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 24.
