First came Varun Gandhi's diatribe against Muslims, then an Andhra Congressman, Srinivas, tried to reply in the same coin by attacking Hindus.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad also joined the bandwagon on Monday when he allegedly said that he would have "crushed" BJP candidate Varun Gandhi under a roller for his anti-Muslim speeches if he had been the country's Home Minister.

But amid this war of words, the RJD chief seems to be heading towards trouble.

Lalu's remarks against Varun could now put the RJD chief behind bars. So, on Tuesday morning, he tried a tactful backtrack.

"What I meant was crushing Varun's political career," the RJD chief said.

But the Election commission has said it will investigate and the police have also hinted that Lalu could be  arrested.

The BJP, not surprisingly, now wants Lalu to be treated in the same manner as Varun.

"We want the EC to now advise the RJD to withdraw Lalu as their candidate," BJP leader Balbir Punj said.

There is a reason for the BJP's reticence. They think if Lalu Yadav goes to jail, it would diminish the halo of martyrdom the BJP believes Varun Gandhi has acquired.