Bhopal: Controversial woman seer and BJP’s rookie Hindutva face Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, whose candidature for Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency stirred hornet’s nest in national politics, has been restrained by her party from speaking to media till May 19 when the seventh and final phase of parliamentary polls would be held in the country.
Sources said BJP was worried that any controversial statement by her at the juncture would harm prospects of the party in constituencies in MP and other states that are going to polls in the final phase of LS elections on May 19.
The party’s decision to restrain her from speaking in public came close on the heels of her controversial remarks on slain IPS officer of Maharashtra Hemant Karkare, killed by terrorists during 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, which had created a ripple effect in Maharashtra, angering people in the western Indian state.
Pragya had said her curse had led to tragic end of the police officer. Her remarks had been resented by Marathi samaj in Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Indore Lok Sabha constituency which is going to polls on May 19 has a sizeable presence of Marathi community.
“BJP national vice-president Vinoy Sahasrabuddhe had to stay put in Bhopal till campaign period was over there on May 10 to ensure that she did not make any controversial remarks”, sources said. The party has a plan to use her in BJP’s road shows in Khandwa and Dewas constituencies to campaign for party’s candidates in the two constituencies.
The two constituencies have sizeable Muslim population. The two constituencies are going to LS polls on May 19 along with six other constituencies in Madhya Pradesh.
Pragya was pitted by BJP against veteran leader and Congress candidate Digvijay Singh in Bhopal which went to polls on May 12.
