BJP chief Amit Shah had in a controversial comment said that if his party loses in Bihar, "crackers will be burst in Pakistan."
Two newspaper advertisements by the BJP in Bihar have been banned by the Election Commission, hours after leaders from the Nitish Kumar-led "Grand Alliance" complained to the election watchdog, accusing the BJP of promoting "lies and communal tension" in the state through its advertisements.
Here are the latest developments:
The Election Commission, in a strongly-worded advisory to the Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer Ajay Naik, has asked to ensure that the two advertisements aren't published in any newspaper from tomorrow till the elections in the state are over.
One of the advertisements alleges that Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar are "snatching the plate of Dalits" by planning to transfer the quota meant for Dalits and EBCs to minorities.
The other advertisement is on 'vote ki kheti' or votebank politics. It claimed that RJD, JD(U) and Congress leaders are "giving santuary" to terrorists to appease a particular community for votes.
Before the 'Grand Alliance' leaders approached the Election Commission today, the BJP beat them to the draw. "In the last few days, their leaders have attempted to communalise the Bihar campaign. They want to disturb the communal harmony," said the BJP's Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi after meeting the Election Commission to complain against the rival alliance.
Hours later, a delegation of the 'Grand Alliance' approached the poll panel, demanding that BJP chief Amit Shah be barred from entering Bihar till the "poll process is over". "Shah's remarks are inflammatory... He is a habitual conspirator," said KC Tyagi of the ruling Janata Dal (United), after meeting the Election Commission.
Mr Tyagi was referring to the BJP chief's controversial comment at a rally in Bihar on Thursday, when he said, "If the BJP is defeated in the Bihar assembly election, firecrackers will be burst (in celebration) in Pakistan."
Earlier, the BJP had also accused Lalu Prasad of using "profane language" against Amit Shah.
"Such a statement of Amit Shah has certain motive to play the communal card but he and the BJP will not succeed in their design in Bihar," Mr Yadav said this morning and also, "Amit Shah has gone mad. He has insulted all Biharis, including Hindus, Muslims, Dalits, OBCs by calling us Pakistanis."
"What is communal in talking about Pakistan," asked the BJP's senior Bihar leader Sushil Modi, accusing his party's opponents of seeking "cheap publicity." He said what Mr Shah meant was that a "loss in Bihar will weaken the Prime Minister and so there will be celebrations in Pakistan."
With the closely fought Bihar election entering its last lap, the campaign has become shriller with both sides using strong words to attack the other. Votes will be counted on November 8, after two more phases of polling. Votes have so far been cast in three phases for 131 of Bihar's 243 seats.
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