Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday asserted that Congress MLAs will not leave the party after the assembly polls, as the people of the state have seen the BJP-led government's "misrule" for five years.
Geholt, whose government was on the brink of collapse last year due to a rebellion by a section of Congress MLAs allegedly at the instigation of the saffron party, claimed at a press conference that the election results of Assam and West Bengal will give "a jerk to the BJP and its fascist ideology".
The Assam Jatiya Parishad on Wednesday complained to the Chief Electoral Officer against sitting BJP MLA and Morigain candidate Rama Kanta Dewri for allegedly distributing money. The newly floated political party enclosed a video, which has gone viral showing Dewri of handing over money to some women.
Bengali-speaking Barak Valley and tribal-dominated three hills districts will be the focus of the second phase elections inAssamon Thursday when polling will be conducted for 39 of the state's 26 Assembly seats.
Assam broke all previous records in seizures of cash, liquor, drug and other goods after the assembly polls were notified with several agencies confiscating items worth over Rs 110 crore, Chief Electoral Officer of Assam Nitin Khade said on Wednesday.
During the 2016 state polls, central and state agencies had seized goods worth less than Rs 20 crore.
Addressing a press conference, Khade said, "After the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force on February 26 in view of the Assam assembly elections, cash and other valuables worth Rs 110.83 crore have been seized till date.
Upping the ante against the BJP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday asserted that he is not like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who "lies to India 24/7".
Gandhi, while addressing an election rally in Chaygaon constituency in Assam's Kamrup district, urged people to listen to him if they want to hear the truth.
"I haven't come here to lie to you. My name is not Narendra Modi. If you wish to hear him lie about Assam, farmers or any other issue, switch on the television. He lies to India 24/7. If you want to listen to the truth, hear me out," he said.
The fate of five ministers, the deputy speaker and a few significant opposition faces will be decided as 39 seats in Assam go to the polls in the second phase on Thursday.
In all, 345 candidates, including 26 women, are in the fray in this phase, the polling for which will be held from 7 am to 6 pm amid heavy security and strict Covid-19 guidelines, officials said.
The ruling BJP is contesting 34 seats, while its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) are fighting in six and three seats, respectively.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday told AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal sternly that BJP will not allowAssamto become a hub for infiltrators again after the saffron party had successfully freed the land encroached by them during the last five years.
When we will provide drinking water to every household, then water will reach houses of Muslims also. Minorities will also get houses when we will provide it to everyone. Minorities, tribals & Bodos will also get Rs 10,000 that Assam govt will provide to farmers, says Amit Shah
It is BJP's task to free Assam from terrorism, says Shah.
When I'd come to meet family of Dipanjal Das (killed in Guwahati during anti-CAA protests in 2019) I felt that bullets weren't fired at one youth, it was fired at Assam. It was an attempt to murder Assam. He wasn't just one among the youth, he was an idea. He was Assam, says Rahul Gandhi at a rally.
I've not come here to lie to you. My name isn't Narendra Modi. If you want to listen to lies — about Assam, farmers, about anything - then switch on your TV, look at Narendra Modi's face & listen to him as much as you want. He lies to India all 24 hours: Rahul Gandhi in Kamrup
Aayogs have been made to deliver on the promises as well, such as increasing BTC seats. We've provided Rs 4 lakh each for rehabilitation of youth that gave up arms. Bodo language has also been given a statehood and we've also provided a package of Rs 750 crore, says Amit Shah.
Congress had shot on the youth of Assam during insurgencies in the past. The same Congress today is walking with Badruddin Ajmal. Does the party that killed Assam's youth has any right to ask for votes in Assam? Amit Shah asks at a rally in Chirang.
AIUDF head Badruddin Ajmal, who claims to be the BJP's only target in poll-bound Assam, has an issue with the top brass of the Bharatiya Janata Party that is not entirely political.
All you need to know about the key constituencies, candidates and contests here
The people of Assam have understood there is no relation between 'jumlas' (rhetoric) and development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday, asking the Centre to explain what it had done for the upliftment of labourers, including tea garden workers, in the state.
With eyes on five of the 39 Assembly constituencies going for polls on April 1, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday promised to implement Article 244 (A) of the Constitution that allows creation of an autonomous state within Assam for tribal-dominated districts.