The Congress has categorically ruled out any alliance with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, making it clear that the party will contest independently.

Addressing reporters in Guwahati on Tuesday, Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi said there is no understanding or agreement with the AIUDF, either at present or in the future. He added that the Congress is focused on strengthening its organisation at the grassroots level and reaching out directly to voters.

Congress targets BJP government over corruption allegations

Gogoi also launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of corruption during the execution of major infrastructure projects in the state. He alleged that projects such as elevated corridors and flyovers were being showcased as symbols of development while corruption remained deeply entrenched in their implementation.

According to Gogoi, the Congress will continue to raise questions over what it termed as misgovernance by the BJP-led government. He said people in Assam are increasingly aware of these issues and are seeking transparency, accountability, and development that benefits ordinary citizens.

Bhupesh Baghel joins attack on Assam Chief Minister

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel also targeted the Assam government during a press conference in Dispur. He alleged that corruption had reached alarming levels under the present administration and claimed the state was being pushed towards “ruins”.

Baghel recalled the 2021 Assam Assembly elections, when he served as an observer, and referred to discussions about a political “syndicate” operating in the state. He claimed that corruption had expanded so much over the years that earlier allegations now appeared insignificant in comparison.

Allegations over assets and land acquisitions

Raising questions over asset declarations, Baghel alleged that Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wealth had increased sharply over the years. He cited figures from declared assets, stating that Sarma’s wealth rose from around Rs 1 crore in 2006 to Rs 17 crore in 2021.

He further alleged that land acquisitions, subsidies, and policy changes were carried out to benefit select individuals and business interests, including families of ministers. Baghel also referred to land-related issues in tea garden areas and changes in rules concerning elephant corridors, claiming these were altered to serve private interests.

According to him, large tracts of land were acquired over the past five years across districts such as Majuli, Kamrup, Guwahati, Nagaon, Golaghat, and Karbi Anglong, adding that the total value of such properties could not be easily assessed.

Taking charge as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s national president on Tuesday, Nitin Nabin moved swiftly to shape his leadership footprint by announcing a series of key organisational appointments linked to upcoming Assembly and municipal elections. The decisions are being viewed within party circles as an early indication of Nabin’s priorities and the team he may rely on going forward.

One of Nabin’s first decisions was appointing BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde as the election in-charge for the Kerala Assembly elections. Tawde has also been named an observer for the Chandigarh mayoral elections. Among the most senior leaders in the party’s organisational setup, Tawde currently oversees Bihar, where the NDA registered a sweeping victory in the recent Assembly elections.

His expanded role is being seen as a sign of growing trust and a possible elevation in stature within the party’s central leadership. Alongside him, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje has been appointed as the co-in-charge for the Kerala polls.

Ram Madhav returns to organisational spotlight

Another notable appointment is that of Ram Madhav as the in-charge for the Bengaluru municipal corporation elections. Madhav previously served as a national general secretary during Amit Shah’s tenure as BJP president and played a key role in Jammu and Kashmir politics, including during the formation of the BJP–PDP alliance in 2015.

After being sent back to the RSS in 2020, Madhav’s return to active organisational responsibilities became clearer when he was appointed election in-charge for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in 2024. His latest assignment is being interpreted as a signal of a larger role ahead and renewed backing from the RSS.

Former Rajasthan BJP president Satish Poonia has been named co-in-charge for the Bengaluru civic polls, along with Maharashtra MLA Sanjay Upadhyay. Poonia, who has been seeking a political comeback after his Assembly election defeat, has recently handled responsibilities in Haryana and Bihar.

Focus on younger leadership in Telangana

In another significant move, Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar has been appointed in-charge for the Telangana municipal corporation elections. Considered one of the younger faces in the Maharashtra BJP, Shelar is known to be close to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and has previously led the Maharashtra Yuva Morcha.

Former Rajasthan BJP president Ashok Parnami and Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma will assist Shelar as co-in-charges. Shelar’s appointment is also being seen as a reflection of his close working relationship with Nitin Nabin and an emphasis on grooming leaders with organisational experience.

Together, these early appointments suggest that Nabin’s tenure may focus on blending senior organisational hands with relatively younger leaders, as the BJP prepares for a series of crucial electoral battles.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asserted that India will not allow illegal immigrants to take advantage of the country’s people or resources, calling illegal immigration a major threat to national security.

Addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters after 45-year-old Nitin Nabin was declared elected as the party’s national president, the prime minister said it was essential to identify illegal immigrants and send them back to their respective countries.

Illegal immigration a global issue

Modi said several wealthy and influential countries that project themselves as champions of democracy are also deporting illegal immigrants, and their actions are rarely questioned.

“No country in the world accepts illegal immigrants. It is necessary to identify them and send them back to their countries,” he said, adding that India would not allow its services meant for the poor to be misused.

The prime minister also accused some political parties of protecting illegal immigrants for votebank politics. He said such actions must be exposed before the public.

Urban Naxals and population imbalance flagged

Apart from illegal immigration, Modi highlighted urban Naxals and population imbalance as other serious challenges facing the country. He alleged that urban Naxals are expanding their influence globally and working to damage India’s interests.

The prime minister claimed that individuals who occasionally speak positively about him or the government are often targeted and silenced. According to him, such people are subjected to public humiliation and social isolation, which he described as a tactic used by urban Naxals.

Modi recalled that the BJP had earlier been treated as untouchable for years but said the public is now recognising these methods. He urged party workers to counter what he called an anti-India nexus through organisational strength and ideological commitment.