Talking to mediapersons Sharma said “A person who coined words like Hindu Atankvad (Hindu terrorism) or Bhagwa Atankvad (saffron terrorism) can never be pro-Hindu or a nationalist. A true nationalist like Pragya, is the right candidate against Digvijaya” Sharma, a former Rajya Sabha MP said. “BJP should convince Pragya to enter the fray without any delay” he added.

“The party should consider, contact and ask Pragya to contest from Bhopal as it is a city of intellectuals and nationalists. In this election, polarisation between nationalist and separatist forces is highly likely. I do not believe in polarisation on the basis of religion, but I am not against polarisation for the country” said Sharma.

Sharma’s statement comes at time when Sadhvi Pragya had disclosed that she is making up her mind to accept the challenge against Digvijaay Singh in Bhopal. On March 24, Pragya had said “If it’s about taking on someone who calls Hindus terrorists and speaks against the nation, I am ready. His (Digvijaya) statements give strength to enemy countries. It’s not my wish, but I think people want me to enter politics. And if the Sangathan wants me to contest, I am ready”.

Originally some RSS leaders suggested the name of V. D. Sharma, an important party functionary but he was described weak by local BJP leaders. Besides, Sharma is an outsider to the state capital.

Since former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will be busy campaigning for the party across the state, the RSS wants that he should be kept away from contesting an election from Bhopal. RSS has thus put forward the name of Union Minister Uma Bharti. A senior office bearer of RSS Suresh Joshi who was on a two-day visit to the state capital wanted that Bharti should be fielded from Bhopal from where she had won Lok Sabha election in 1999. Singh was the Chief Minister of MP then.

Nevertheless, Bharti has already refused to contest an election and resolved to serve the Ganga for one and a half years. Those who are associated with the RSS said that if the organisation tells her to fight an election she will agree. As soon as Bharti’s name cropped up, the BJP leaders got nervous. To keep her away from MP politics, she has been sent to UP, but her contesting election from Bhopal means her return to the state. The BJP leaders are trying to put up the names of present MP Alok Sanjan and Bhopal Mayor Alok Sharma.

Meanwhile Digvijaya Singh launched his campaign by paying visits to several temples and also ashrams of several Sadhus before reaching Bhopal. He visited the headquarters of Shankracharya Swami Swoorpanand and sought his blessings. He also sought blessings of a Jain Muni and visited a Dargah at Raisen. He visited Dargah at 3 am.

After reaching Bhopal he declared “I am a staunch Hindu”. “I can assure you that Narendra Modi is not becoming the next Prime Minister. Bhopal’s communal harmony was destroyed after the Babri Mashid demolition. It is only after the Babri demolition that Bhopal lost the Ganga-Jamuni (communal harmony) tradition. No riot had occurred in Bhopal before 1992” he said. Asked if his father Bal Bhadra Singh was a member of the Hindu Mahasabha as largely believed by people in the state Digviajaay said it was false. “It is RSS propaganda. My father wore Khadi and believed in the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. In 1972, he contested the elections as an independent” he explained.

Addressing the congregation of Congress workers Digvijaya said “I don’t like sycophancy, tattletales, backstabbing. I don’t want you to put up my photographs. There should be no loud noise or beating of drums, and no slogan shouting in my name”.

Interestingly besides Bhopal BJP has yet to decide the fate of Indore which at present is represented by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. But it seems that Mahajan may not be repeated.

The BJP is facing trouble and rebel like situation in some constituencies. The most serious revolt is from Shahdol where a veteran BJP leader, former Minister Gyan Singh has announced his decision to contest as independent. It may be mentioned here that Gyan Singh was asked to resign from the Shivraj Singh Chouhan Ministry in 2016 and was sponsored as candidate for a by poll from Shahdol constituency. He won the election. The party however denied him ticket this time and sponsored a former Congress leader Himadri Singh whom Gyan Singh defeated in the by poll. Gyan Singh felt humiliated and announced his decision to contest as independent. (IPA Service)