NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s Election Commission said on Thursday it has sought responses from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress over alleged violations of election rules by the prime minister Narendra Modi and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.
India will hold the world’s largest elections in seven phases, with votes to be counted on June 4.
In their complaints to the committee, the BJP accused Gandhi and Congress Modi of making divisive speeches on religion, caste and language issues, according to notices from the panel.
Modi, who is seeking a rare third consecutive term in office, called Muslims “infiltrators” and “those who have more children” during a campaign speech on Sunday, sparking widespread criticism from opposition groups and a complaint from Congress to the poll panel.
The BJP has said in its complaint that Gandhi tried to create division on linguistic and cultural issues.
The election panel has sought replies from BJP president JP Nadda and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge by April 29.
(Reporting by Shivam Patel and Krishn Kaushik in New Delhi; Editing by YP Rajesh)
