Taking cognisance for the first time of a model code violation complaint against a prime minister, the EC issued a notice to BJP president J P Nadda on Opposition charge that PM Narendra Modi gave a divisive speech in Rajasthan. Separately, the poll panel also issued a notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, asking him to respond to the complaints filed by the BJP against him Rahul Gandhi regarding their remarks.

In the notice sent to Nadda, the EC sought his response by Monday to the complaints filed by the Congress, CPI, CPI (ML) and civil society groups regarding the remarks made by Modi. These complaints had referred to Modi’s allegations that the Congress wanted to redistribute the wealth of the people to Muslims and that the opposition party won’t even spare the ‘mangalsutra’ of women.