New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI): The BJP today petitioned the Election Commission seeking action against Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for allegedly dubbing it as a "party of thieves" in his poll rally in Kharsiya in Chhattisgarh.

In its complaint, the party termed Gandhi as a "habitual offender" and termed the Congress as a "history-sheeter" party in violating the model code of conduct and laws of the land.

The complaint seeks stern action against Gandhi in the wake of the poll body expressing displeasure over his certain remarks against the BJP and his linking the Muzaffarnagar riot victims to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and asking him to be more circumspect in future.

"We have sought stern action against Rahul Gandhi as he has become a habitual offender like his party which is a history-sheeter in violating the law," said BJP Vice President Muktar Abbas Naqvi.

He claimed the use of the word "chor" (thief) to describe a party and its leaders is a "clear cut violation of the model code of conduct" and demanded stern action from the poll watchdog.

Naqvi said a delegation of BJP leaders will also meet the Chief Electoral Officer of Chhattisgarh and demand action besides presenting another memorandum to him.

Gandhi had earlier today dubbed the BJP as a "party of thieves" and accused it of "looting natural resources" of Chhattisgarh.

"I want one thing from the son of Nandkumar Patel.... I want not one but around 500 Nand Kuma Patels. I will not bring them from Delhi, I want them from the crowd here who can stand up and kick out BJP from here... these thieves from here," Gandhi had said at a poll rally in Kharsiya, the home constituency of slain state unit Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel, ahead of the second phase of polling on Tuesday.