The “poison” barb against each others in the heat of election campaign in Karnataka on Friday reached the Election Commission with either side –Congress and BJP- demanding a complete ban of certain leaders in campaign in the ensuing assembly polls including Union Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

Attacking on the Congress president for his “poisonous snake” barb at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP urged Poll body  to file a  case against Kharge and bar him from campaigning in Karnataka assembly polls, On the ‘vishkanya’ remark made against former congress chief Sonia Gandhi by BJP leader Basangouda Patil Yatnal, Congress said party will utilise all legal options available before it, including moving Election Commission. The “vishkanya” remark against Gandhi by Yatnal came a day after Kharge compared Modi with a poisonous snake.

Union minister Bhupender Yadav, who led a BJP delegation to Election Commission, told media that Kharge’s comment was not merely a slip of tongue but part of Congress’ “hate politics” as he accused the party of working to spread disharmony and provoke people ahead of the high-stakes polls in southern state. BJP has demanded registration of an FIR under IPC Sections 499 and 500, which deal with defamation, and Section 504, which deals with offence of deliberate insults and provocation. The delegation also included BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni and party leader Om Pathak.

Kharge who likened Modi to a “poisonous snake” however sought to clarify that his remarks were not aimed at prime minister but at the ruling BJP. “Kharge should be barred from campaigning in Karnataka elections so as to contain spread of such acrimonious campaign and set an example that Commission will not brook any violation of MCC or other laws of land,” said the BJP’s memorandum to EC.