The Shiv Sena on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using the Indian Army's valour in the Galwan valley clash for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. The ruling coalition lead party in Maharashtra said the PM is playing"caste and regional card" by highlighting the role of a particular Army regiment whose personnel were involved in the fierce clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan valley along the LAC on June 15. Party mouthpiece 'Saamana', in its editorial, referred to Modi's statement mentioning the Bihar Regiment's bravery in the Galwan valley clash.

"When the country faced crisis on its borders, were Mahar, Maratha, Rajput, Sikh, Gorkha, Dogra regiments sitting idle and mixing or chewing tobacco on the borders?" the Marathi daily asked in a stinging poser. "Yesterday, Maharashtra's Sunil Kale (a CRPF jawan from the state) attained martyrdom in Pulwama (during an encounter with terrorists). Due to the upcoming Bihar elections, importance is being given to caste and region in the Indian Army," it said.