The Congress and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party Monday over Ram Navami clashes in Bengal and other states last week, accusing prime minister Narendra Modi's outfit of 'incit(ing) riots... sponsored and targeted violence' before elections or in opposition-ruled states.

The attack on the BJP - the Congress and Thackeray's Sena are allies - comes as Modi's party preps for a potentially crucial Karnataka election next month ahead of polls in eight other states and the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

The Congress, Thackeray's Sena and other opposition parties have united on several issues over the past months as they bid to challenge the BJP in 2024.

The conviction of ex-Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case - by a court in Modi's home state of Gujarat - has added further impetus to that unity, with even the Trinamool appearing to soften.