MUMBAI: The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday directed the parish priest of

,

, to remove a banner greeting

candidate

from the premises of its affiliate

. The priest

remains defiant and will contest the action.

The local BJP-Shiv Sena alliance complained to the EC about the "violation of the model code of conduct". Around noon, EC officials visited the school with police and instructed Fr Rui to take down the banner.

Kalina BJP leader Anil Upadhyay said, "The priest's action is unprecedented and uncalled for. We also rang the Archbishop's House to complain. How can the church openly recommend a certain candidate? All temples, mosques and churches will start doing so."

Fr Rui remains defiant, though. "The election officials could not quote which sections of the model code I had violated. The pressure was from one individual. The municipality and police were interfering although the banners were in our property. I was not promoting Abraham, merely offering best wishes as he is alumnus of our school. On Tuesday I will take up the case with the EC."