Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked World Environment Day on Wednesday by inaugurating the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign.

Prime Minister Modi, joined by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, planted a peepal tree sapling at Buddha Jayanti Park in Delhi to mark the occasion.

World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5th, marks the anniversary of the opening day of the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

The theme chosen for this year's World Environment Day celebration is "Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience." It centres on the critical imperative to rejuvenate and safeguard our land resources, addressing the pressing issues of desertification and drought resilience.

The Union Cabinet is expected to convene today around 11:30 am in Delhi, where key discussions on national matters are anticipated. Additionally, leaders of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are set to gather at Prime Minister Modi's residence, located at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, later in the day. This meeting is slated to commence around 3:30 pm and is likely to involve strategic deliberations on various governmental and political issues.

Key leaders, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, are expected to attend the NDA meeting. The gathering, set to take place at Prime Minister Modi's residence, will focus on strategic discussions among the alliance leaders.

Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc will hold its meeting in the national capital around 6 pm. This meeting aims to coordinate efforts and strategies among opposition parties.

Both the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc are scheduled to hold meetings on Wednesday to devise future political strategies.

The counting of votes for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections concluded on Tuesday. According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP secured 240 seats, a significant drop from its 2019 tally of 303. Meanwhile, the Congress demonstrated substantial growth, winning 99 seats. The INDIA bloc surpassed the 230 mark, providing strong competition and defying all predictions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has secured a third term, but the BJP will need to rely on the support of coalition partners, including JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu.

After the votes from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were counted, the BJP fell 32 seats short of the 272 majority mark. This marks the first time since the Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in 2014 that it did not secure a majority on its own.

Image source: ANI