“Hindutva terrorism” was the main topic for discussion in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election in Madhya Pradesh. Constituencies such as Morena, Bhind, Gwalior, Guna, Sagar, Vidisha, Bhopal and Rajgarh recorded 60 per cent polling on Sunday.

Senior leaders of the Congress, Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia, are fighting from Bhopal and Guna seats respectively, while senior BJP leader and Minister Narendra Singh Tomar is contesting from Morena.

The BJP, which had won 27 of 29 seats in the State in 2014, is fighting the polls after a setback during the Assembly elections, where was voted out of power after ruling the State for 15 years.

In Bhopal, the BJP has fielded Hindutva terror accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur against Congress’ Digvijaya Singh. The election resulted in a discussion on the Hindutva terror too.

Senior leaders of the BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accused the Congress of coming up with “Hindu terror” terminology to malign a religion. “The Congress has hatched the ‘Hindu atankwad ’ (terrorism) conspiracy to defame our religious heritage,” Modi said at an election rally in Khandwa on Sunday. “No matter how many janeu (sacred thread) they will show, the Congress and its mahamilavat (highly-adulterated) allies will never escape from the sin of putting blot of terrorism on the saffron colour of the Hindu religion,” he added.

The BJP is also depending on the strong cadre base it has in the State. Seats such as Bhopal and Vidisha have helped the BJP for almost 30 years. The party sees no reason for people switching their political preferences in 2019. The Congress, on the other hand, is trying its best to win such seats. By fielding Digvijaya Singh in Bhopal, the party wants to prove that it is serious about fighting the BJP.

For the Congress, the fight in Madhya Pradesh is crucial as its value in the post-poll scenario will be assessed after taking a look at the seats it wins from States where it is in a direct fight with the BJP.

Party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi had spent considerable time campaigning in Madhya Pradesh.

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