The high-stakes election campaigns in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry came to a close on Tuesday evening, setting the stage for polls on April 9.Campaigning for the 126-member Assembly in Assam drew significant attention due to the presence of high-profile figures such as CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi, Ranoj Pegu, Chandramohan Patowary, Atul Bora, Keshav Mahanta, Ajanta Neog, Ashok Singhal, and leaders from Raijor Dal.The BJP’s campaign was dominated by issues of illegal immigration and the state’s development, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah leading the charge against the Opposition.In Kerala, CM Pinarayi Vijayan spent the final days of the campaign framing the LDF as a “stability shield”, promising to expand the state’s welfare safety net to support returning migrants.The UDF leadership, led by VD Satheesan, attacked the government for failing to industrialise the state, arguing that the war had exposed Kerala’s dangerous over-reliance on a volatile West Asia.The BJP-led NDA side, led by state unit chief Rajeev Chandrsekhar, used the final hours to highlight the Centre’s successful evacuation protocols and “Vande Bharat” readiness, aiming to win over middle-class families concerned for their relatives in conflict zones like Iran and the UAE.In Puducherry, the battle for the 30-seat Assembly has become a prestige contest between the NDA and the INDIA bloc, both of which have heavily invested in securing the Union Territory’s crucial support.