Bengaluru, April 20: Post delivering a controversial speech on Thursday, an FIR has been registered against BJP MLA Sanjay Patil. His speech was with the intention to polarise voters on communal lines in poll-bound Karnataka, where he made a hate speech against the minorities while campaigning in the Belagavi district. During a public address, the legislator said the upcoming elections is a fight between the proponents of Ram Mandir and Babri Masjid.

According to ANI, he was quoted as saying, "This election is not about roads, water or other issues. This election is about Hindus vs Muslims, Ram Mandir vs Babri Masjid."

An FIR has been registered against BJP MLA Sanjay Patil on charges of delivering a provocative speech in Belagavi. Patil had said 'This election is not about roads, water or other issues,this election is about Hindus vs Muslims' #KarnatakaElections2018 (file pic) pic.twitter.com/Kbx1fDE2r7

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2018

The polls in Karnataka are slated to be held on May 12, with the results scheduled to be declared on May 15. As per the first major opinion poll released last month, the incumbent Congress holds the edge. The survey, however predicts a hung assembly, with the Congress expected to win 90-110 of the 224 seats, followed by the BJP which could bag 72-86.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 20, 2018 11:10 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).