Tensions Escalate in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu Before Polls

As India approaches a series of state assembly elections in early April 2026, political tensions are escalating across Kerala, Assam, and Tamil Nadu, with controversies over foreign influence, language policies, and candidate nominations dominating the campaign landscape.

In Assam, a heated dispute erupted ahead of the state's polls scheduled for Thursday, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accusing the Congress party of using fabricated documents supplied by Pakistani social media groups to target his wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. On Sunday, Congress leader Pawan Khera presented what he described as evidence showing Riniki held passports from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbuda, raising questions about compliance with Indian laws prohibiting dual citizenship. Khera also demanded scrutiny of the chief minister's overseas properties and alleged shell companies, questioning inconsistencies in election affidavits.

Sarma dismissed the claims as "malicious lies" and politically motivated, pointing to inconsistencies in the documents, such as mismatched spellings, passport numbers, and photos. He stated that the Assam police had initiated an investigation, with...