Mangalore: The BJP has alleged that Congress was involving in character assassination of its leaders ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

In a statement here, BJP district president Pratap Simha Nayak said Congress was trying to create disunity among communities and involved in character assassination of BJP leaders.

“The party will not respond to such statements and ask the Election Commission to take action against Congress leaders for violating rules,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we have to tell a 100-year-old party to show some sportsman spirit during the elections,” he said.

Senior Congress leader B Janardhan Poojary is locked in an intense battle with Naleen Kumar Kateel of BJP in the Dakshina Kannada constituency.