The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday presented a memorandum to the Election Commission accusing the Congress-Janata Dal (United)-Rashtriya Janata Dal alliance of trying to divide voters along communal lines in the ongoing Bihar elections. The Indian Express reported that a BJP delegation led by Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi urged the poll watchdog to take “stringent action” against them. The memorandum named incumbent chief minister Nitish Kumar, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

NDTV reported that hours after the BJP made their complaint, JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi said a delegation from their alliance had met the commission about the BJP’s poll tactics as well. “[Party chief] Amit Shah’s presence creates tension as he makes problematic comments, he should be kept away from campaigning,” he said after the meeting.

Nitish Kumar also hit out at the Prime Minister later in the day over his use of communal politics, and said that in his desperation to win the Bihar polls, he might lose India.