Satyanarayan Joshi, 57, a priest at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, cites history to underscore the importance of Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to the temple.
“In December 1979, when Indira Gandhi was fighting to return to power, she had visited the temple. She got delayed but she patiently waited for the Bhasma Aarti [a ritual to decorate the jyotirlinga with ashes] to get over. Thereafter, she offered her prayers to Baba [Lord Siva],” said Mr. Joshi, one of the priests who was present when Mr. Gandhi offered prayers at the temple. “Indiraji went back to Delhi and became Prime Minister once again. In the eyes of Lord Mahakal, everyone is equal and the Lord showers his blessings on all.”
Game plan
The Congress is certainly counting on those as it is going all out for the “Hindu vote” and “neutralise” the BJP’s charge of “Muslim appeasement”.
With nearly 91% of Madhya Pradesh’s population identified as Hindu in the previous census, parties are now competing on who can do “more” for the community.
State Congress president Kamal Nath has already promised to build one gaushala (cow shelter) in each of the 23,006 gram panchayats. His party organised a Ram Van Gaman Yatra to trace the mythical route that Lord Ram is supposed to have taken.
Mr. Gandhi has visited the Kamtanath temple, where the deity is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Ram, offered prayers at the Goddess Peetambara temple during Navratras and performed a Narmada aarti.
Mr. Nath’s gaushala promise forced BJP supporters to say that the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has spent over ₹45 crore on 604 cow shelters that are currently functional and is taking care of 1.5 lakh cattle
There is mention of religion in Congress campaigns even when it attacks the Chouhan government on issues such farmers’ anger, price rise and allegations of corruption.
“They didn’t spare the Mahakumbh Mela. By inflating the rates 10 times, they took away money from the Mahakumbh,” said Mr. Gandhi at a well- attended rally in Ujjain that hosted the Mahakumbh in 2016.
“In the Vyapam scam, 50 people have been killed, the entire education structure has been demolished. Madhya Pradesh’s youth don’t get employment. Even if you fry pakodas, they will steal your money. They speak of religion but corruption is their religion,” he said.
Apart from countering appeasement charge and challenging the BJP on its own turf, the Congress’s “all-embracing Hindu” pitch is with an eye on the tribal belt. In the Assembly polls in 2013, the BJP won 31 of the 47 seats in this belt. Much of this is because of the “social welfare work” done by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh among the tribal people. And local Congress leaders privately admit that Adivasis now identify themselves as Hindus.
BJP charge
“It is not their natural language, but election-time language. Hinduism is a lifestyle and culture and not an election-time gimmick. God knows everything why he [Rahul Gandhi] is remembering the Lord,” Prabhat Jha, national vice-president of the BJP, said.
The BJP, however, is having its own share of troubles. Upper castes and Other Backward Classes, who together make up more than 60% of the population, traditionally vote for the BJP. But they are angry with the party for “reversing” the Supreme Court order that prevented immediate arrest in cases registered under the SC/ST Act.
“I voted for the BJP last time but this time I wont,” said Govind Panwar, 26, a transporter.
At the Omkareshwar temple, on the banks of Narmada, Hindu monks had a mixed opinion over the centrality of religion in campaigns.
“Faith is an individual matter, a matter of belief. The main issue the government should focus on is reducing prices of essentials and making our lives easier,” said Kuldeep Dwivedi, a priest.
“The Congress has ruled for nearly 70 years but what have they done for Hindus. Modiji [Prime Minister Narendra Modi] is here only for four years. We need to give him time,” says Acharya Anildas Yogiraj, who runs an ashram on the banks of the Narmada.