NEW DELHI: Hours after the BJP announced Sandhvi Pragya Singh Thakur as its candidate from Bhopal, former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, who is the Congress nominee from Madhya Pradesh's capital city, shared a video message for her on Twitter.


In the video, Singh took a dig at Thakur, saying he hoped she will be "attracted" by the "peaceful and dignified" environment of Bhopal.

Thakur, facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, will take on Singh in the Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency, a BJP citadel.

The Congress stalwart took to micro-blogging site to "welcome" the right-wing activist, who spent several years in jail before being granted bail in 2017. Singh said he hoped the "peaceful and dignified" environment of Bhopal would "attract" the saffron leader.

"I welcome Sadhvi Pragyaji in Bhopal and hope that the picturesque city's peaceful, educated and dignified environment would attract you," he tweeted.

"I pray to Maa (goddess) Narmada for Sadhviji and seek blessing from Narmadaji (holy river) so that we all walk the path of truth, non-violence and religion. Narmada Har (glory be to the Narmada)," Singh said in another tweet.


The Sadhvi became the face of right-wing extremism after being arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad in the blast case.

On December 27, 2017, a special NIA court had dropped stringent charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act against Thakur and other accused.

The high-profile poll battle between Thakur and Singh, a known RSS basher, will be closely watched. The Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency, which has over 18 lakh voters, including 4.5 lakh from the minority community, will go to the polls on May 12. The BJP has been winning the seat since 1989. Alok Sanjar is the sitting MP from the constituency.

(With inputs from PTI)