Now, the BJP is under attack because Sadhvi Pragya is an accused out on bail in the Malegaon blasts which left 10 dead and 80 injured on 29 September, 2008. But the BJP is braving it out; perhaps, expecting just such a reaction and hoping to play it to its advantage, which to the “bhagwa party” is to drive ahead with force the narrative that it’s a ‘Dharma Yudh’ between those who swear by Muslim-appeasement and those who value Hindu assertion.

The candidature of Sadhvi Pragya is the fulcrum on which the Sangh Parivaar hopes to swing the narrative in its favour. And if people have not noticed, Narendra Modi’s party adopted and discarded issue after issue to fight general elections 2019; from ‘vikas’ to ‘kisan’ to national security and, now, Pakistan, if it hadn’t released Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, knew it was facing a “qatl ki rath”.

Election time rhetoric comes with episodes of “heat of the moment” and a “mingling of words”, but can a politician get away with stating in public that “12 of our missiles” are aimed at an enemy country? Isn’t it a breach of the Officials Secrets Act? Now, the enemy knows and will take remedial action, aim 24 of its missiles at our country.

BJP President Amit Shah says the Sadhvi’s candidature is perfectly in order and that Pragya Thakur is a scapegoat, the real culprits were held and let off. Shivraj Chauhan, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, also justified Pragya’s nomination. The BJP does not believe that Pragya Thakur on bail disqualifies her. Instead, BJP leaders find an equivalence in Congress leaders out on bail contesting the elections.

But, nowhere, does a candidate have the potential to polarize as Sadhvi Pragya in Bhopal. It has given opportunity and cause to other politicians and parties to polarize. Like Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah who have objected to the Sadhvi’s candidature to make a case for autonomy for J&K and to hit out at the BJP for promising to scrap Article 370 and 35A in its election manifesto, drawing sympathetic reactions from across the border.

Pragya Thakur presents a clear and present danger to the politics of India. She appears to be a test balloon floated to see if the people of India are ready for Hindu Rashtra, will the electorate of Bhopal give their assent? It’s no secret that Madhya Pradesh has been a laboratory to test Sangh ideas. And this one – Hindu Rashtra – is the daddy of all Sangh ideas, dating back to the origins of the RSS and held back only because the Hindu right was not in a position of political power to go ahead and proclaim.

Modi’s ascension to power made possible the saffronization of the body politic to a large extent and extend BJP footprints to almost all corners. But still, the powers that be held back, expecting another easy election victory. However, the easy started looking very hard and suddenly it dawned that five years were wasted; hence, this last minute change in pace and strategy.

If Narendra Modi gets a majority again and Sadhvi Pragya Thakur wins, there is every chance a far more aggressive Hindutva will be imposed on the nation and, then, after a couple of more election seasons, there will only be Hindutva and Sadhus and Sadhvis ruling the roost. Every morning, instead of Cock-a-Doodle, it’ll be doodle-do for the majority of us who do not talk the language of the rishis and mahants, Jai Shri Ram.

The cow will be everywhere. In the yard, at the front door and the kitchen door behind. Modi Sunday, talking to Rajasthan’s voters, outlined his cow-outreach and it would have any cow moo and moo in gratitude. Already in Uttar Pradesh, there are more loose cows than there are standing crops. Imagine the day when no matter where you step, you’ll step on cowsh*t. If it’s Hindu Rashtra folks want, why the Dharma Yudh and Jihad? Just nominate clean, non-divisive candidates and leave it to the voter. (IPA Service)