<h1>Religious leader backs independent pro-cow candidates, urging rejection of parties; raises legal questions under Section 123 electoral law</h1> A senior religious leader announced a campaign to support independent candidates in a state assembly election who pledge to protect cows, seeking to field at least one endorsed candidate in each constituency and urging voters to reject parties and politicians who tolerate cow slaughter. The public call effectively constitutes electoral advocacy by a religious authority, raising potential legal issues under electoral law and regulations that restrict partisan campaigning by religious institutions or advocacy that could influence voters on communal or religious grounds. The announcement also criticizes the ruling coalition's policies and links cross-border unrest to changes in religiously motivated livestock laws.