The political battle over election guarantees is intensifying as Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing it of failing to deliver on its promises and calling the party “exposed”. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hit back, calling Modi’s assurances a “cruel joke”. The Karnataka government responded by accusing the BJP of leaving a legacy of debt and corruption, while the Himachal CM defended the Congress, saying it had fulfilled half of its guarantees. With elections approaching in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the ‘guarantees showdown’ is emerging as a major flashpoint in the run-up to the elections.