Lok Sabha elections: Will Sadhvi Pragya be BJP’s hardline answer to Digvijaya?
Akhilesh Singh | TNN | Updated: Apr 9, 2019, 11:12 ISTHighlights
- While the Sadhvi was an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts before being released last year after NIA said it had no prosecutable evidence against her, she is seen as a “deep saffron” figure.
- Though she can be considered a good pick against Singh, who had called the 2008 Batla House encounter of Indian Mujahideen terrorists fake, the Sadhvi can be a political risk given her inexperience.
NEW DELHI: BJP is weighing the pros and cons of fielding hardline Hindutva figure Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur from Bhopal against
Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh
+ in what could turn out to be a highly “polarised” clash.
While the Sadhvi was an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts before being released last year after NIA said it had no prosecutable evidence against her, she is seen as a “deep saffron” figure. Though she can be considered a good pick against Singh, who had called the 2008 Batla House encounter of Indian Mujahideen terrorists fake, the Sadhvi can be a political risk given her inexperience.
Sources said a final call is yet to be taken, pointing to concerns whether she will able to keep a check on her Hindutva rhetoric — something that can swiftly attract the attention of the Election Commission. It can also provide fodder to BJP’s opponents who have accused the party of encouraging Hindu fringe elements.
Complete coverage: Lok Sabha elections
Singh has been a spearhead of the campaign against “saffron terror”, having gone to Azamgarh, where several IM terrorists hailed from, to meet their families and call for a probe into the Batla House encounter in which Delhi Police officer Mohan Sharma was killed.
“Dushman ko parast karne ke liye main bilkul taiyar hoon,” (I am ready to defeat the enemy),” Pragya Thakur told TOI, referring to Singh whom she considers responsible for her public image with which the terror tag is associated. “There are health issues with me for which Singh is responsible. I can never forget the scars he has left in my life,” she said. Asked if she has got any feedback from BJP about her candidature, she hinted, “I am ready to take the plunge and defeat Digvijaya Singh.”
Bhagwan Jha, brother-in-law of Sadhvi Pragya, said “Didi (Pragya Thakur) has made up her mind” to contest after several delegations asked her to contest against Singh. Party sources said Thakur’s candidature has been discussed in internal meetings and the leadership is of the view that her nomination will not only reassert the party’s Hindutva agenda but also expose Congress’s “minority appeasement”.
Bhopal is a BJP stronghold as the party has been winning the seat continuously since 1989. The last Congress MP elected from Bhopal was K N Pradhan in 1984.
While the Sadhvi was an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts before being released last year after NIA said it had no prosecutable evidence against her, she is seen as a “deep saffron” figure. Though she can be considered a good pick against Singh, who had called the 2008 Batla House encounter of Indian Mujahideen terrorists fake, the Sadhvi can be a political risk given her inexperience.
Sources said a final call is yet to be taken, pointing to concerns whether she will able to keep a check on her Hindutva rhetoric — something that can swiftly attract the attention of the Election Commission. It can also provide fodder to BJP’s opponents who have accused the party of encouraging Hindu fringe elements.
Complete coverage: Lok Sabha elections
Singh has been a spearhead of the campaign against “saffron terror”, having gone to Azamgarh, where several IM terrorists hailed from, to meet their families and call for a probe into the Batla House encounter in which Delhi Police officer Mohan Sharma was killed.
“Dushman ko parast karne ke liye main bilkul taiyar hoon,” (I am ready to defeat the enemy),” Pragya Thakur told TOI, referring to Singh whom she considers responsible for her public image with which the terror tag is associated. “There are health issues with me for which Singh is responsible. I can never forget the scars he has left in my life,” she said. Asked if she has got any feedback from BJP about her candidature, she hinted, “I am ready to take the plunge and defeat Digvijaya Singh.”
Bhagwan Jha, brother-in-law of Sadhvi Pragya, said “Didi (Pragya Thakur) has made up her mind” to contest after several delegations asked her to contest against Singh. Party sources said Thakur’s candidature has been discussed in internal meetings and the leadership is of the view that her nomination will not only reassert the party’s Hindutva agenda but also expose Congress’s “minority appeasement”.
Bhopal is a BJP stronghold as the party has been winning the seat continuously since 1989. The last Congress MP elected from Bhopal was K N Pradhan in 1984.
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