PM Modi's temple visits in Nepal violate Karnataka poll code, says Congress

New Delhi/Bengaluru: As voting began for Karnataka Assembly polls on Saturday morning, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Saturday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his temple visits in Nepal.

Gehlot alleged that PM Modi's temple visits in Nepal were a violation of the poll code on a day Karnataka voted.

"As there is model code of conduct in Karnataka, PM Modi planned to pray at temples in Nepal instead, just to influence voters. This is not a good trend for democracy. Why did he only choose today as the day?" the Congress leader said.

Voting for 222 constituencies is being held in Karnataka on Saturday. The results of the election battle will be declared on Tuesday, May 15.

Meanwhile, amid speculation over the timings of PM Modi's visit, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Saturday said the visit was decided soon after KP Sharma Oli's election as prime minister.

Also Read: Focus on content of PM Modi’s Nepal visit, not dates: Foreign Secretary

Prime Minister Modi, who is currently on a two-day visit to Nepal to strengthen Indo-Nepal ties, visited Muktinath temple on Saturday and offered prayers. He became the first world leader to do so. According to the foreign ministry, Modi offered prayers at the life-size golden statue of Lord Vishnu at the temple located at an altitude of 3,710 metres in the mountainous Mustang district.

He also visited the famous Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, the most sacred and oldest temple of Shiva in the country and offered prayers.