A Church leader in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand has warned of legal action against political parties and candidates falsely claiming the Church’s support in the ongoing state assembly election. Father Bishu Benjamin Aind, vicar-general of Khunti diocese in the state, said that “the Church never endorses or asks its faithful to support any political party or candidate.” “People are free to exercise their voting right according to their choice,” the priest told and added if any such cases are reported, “we will initiate legal action.” Aind was reacting to a video circulating on social media since Nov. 10 claiming that Christians were told to vote for an independent candidate named Anita Surin from the Torpa constituency in Khunti district. However, the priest denied any such direction was issued by the Church. Polling was held in Torpa and 42 other constituencies in the first phase on Nov. 13. The second phase of polling for 38 of the total 81 constituencies is scheduled on Nov. 20. “Since there is one more phase due, there is a high possibility of similar cases occurring,” the priest said. Aind, who belongs to the indigenous Oraon tribe, said the video claiming Church support for Surin could be “the handiwork of some anti-social elements who want to divide people in the name of caste, creed and religion.”