The CPI on Sunday accused the BJP of resorting to a “dangerous” election campaign in Gujarat, and said the party’s model of development in the State “stood exposed”.

CPI national secretary D. Raja, at a press meet here, alleged that farmers in Gujarat were highly agitated, while traders and entrepreneurs were equally unhappy following measures such as demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax.

“The BJP is indulging in a personalised campaign in Gujarat. It seeks to polarise and divide people on communal and caste lines for votes, taking politics to a low level,” Mr. Raja said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders were resorting to a “dangerous election campaign” instead of answering questions on issues affecting people, as they realised that the “so-called Gujarat model of development has failed and stood exposed”, Mr. Raja said.

Noting that the EVMs were found to be faulty in many places during the first phase of polling on Saturday, the CPI leader said it had created doubts in people and weakened their faith in the voting mechanism.

“While voting machines are not functioning during elections in one State, it is ironical to talk about holding simultaneous elections in the country,” Mr. Raja said.

Alleging that the fundamentals of the Constitution were being challenged during the BJP rule, he said all secular and democratic forces must unite as violation of the fundamental rights needed to be resisted.