Overview
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at Assam rallies on Monday, accused Congress of echoing Pakistan’s line and backing infiltrators while urging voters to keep BJP in power for security and long-term development.
- The Assam contest turned sharply personal after Congress leaders alleged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife holds multiple foreign passports and hidden assets, which the couple denied as fabricated and pursued with criminal and civil defamation cases.
- Separately, Sarma targeted AJP candidate Kunki Chowdhury over alleged beef posts under Assam’s cattle law, while she filed a cyber complaint and called the material AI-made, and the Election Commission deployed more than 5,000 flying squads to check inflammatory speech.
- In West Bengal on Sunday, Modi cited the Malda gherao of judicial officers as proof of a law-and-order breakdown under TMC and linked the party to shielding “infiltrators,” setting a security and identity frame for polls later this month.
- An ADR review on Saturday said 38% of Kerala candidates face criminal cases and 39% declare assets above ₹1 crore, as Assam and Kerala vote on April 9, West Bengal votes on April 23 and 29, and results are due May 4.