Ahead of the second phase of voting on Friday, the Congress on Thursday asked the Election Commission to take action against Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena for visiting various Church leaders in Kerala ahead of the Lok Sabha election, in what the party called a "violation of the Model Code of Conduct".

Recently, West Bengal Governor CV  Ananda Bose had called off his proposed visit to Cooch Behar heeding the advice of the EC. 

Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly VD Satheesan

VD Satheesan claimed that Saxena, who is on a two-day visit to Kerala, requested an audience with the heads of the Syro Malabar Church, Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Cardinal George Allencherry and others. He also met bishops of the Believers' Church. The Believers' Church, which is a Pentecostal church, has come out in support of the BJP.

Satheesan on Thursday urged the EC to take action against the LG for allegedly visiting heads of churches in the southern State.

Satheesan, in a letter to the Commission, alleged "blatant violation of the model code of conduct" by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena through his meeting of church heads in Kerala.

"I am writing to invite your attention to the blatant violation of the model code of conduct by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena by visiting various church heads in Kerala to lure them to take a stance in favour of BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections," the opposition leader said in his complaint.

Pointing out that as a "constitutional head" of a state, the L-G is "restricted from involvement in any political activity", Satheesan said, "The Delhi Lieutenant Governor visiting various Church heads in Kerala just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to garner votes for the BJP is a blot on democracy and its founding values."

It may be recalled that the Election Commission has not allowed the West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose  to visit Cooch Behar on April 18 and 19 as the silence period for the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls. In its communication to the governor's office, the poll body said that under the Model Code of Conduct and because April 19 is a poll day, no local programme can be organised for the governor, said people familiar with the matter in the EC.

"As per reports, leaders of some of the churches have declined to meet the Lieutenant Governor," he said.

Satheesan contended that the Governor was a constitutional head of state and was restricted from involvement in any political activity.

"However, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor visiting various church heads in Kerala just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to garner votes for the BJP is a blot on democracy and its founding values." he alleged. He requested the EC to "initiate urgent action" against the alleged blatant violation of the model code of conduct by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor.