BHOPAL: Out of power for three terms, the Congress in Madhya Pradesh has taken a complete U-turn in its election strategy for 2018 — from resisting Hindutva in 2003 to embracing it in 2018.

Fifteen years ago, under

, the party had brought Habib Tanveer to stage ‘Ponga Pandit’ throughout the state. Now, Congress is projecting

as ‘Shivbhakt’, ‘Ram Bhakt’ and even ‘Narmada Bhakt’.

In 2003, Digvijaya’s ‘Ponga Pundit’ tour was meant to counter BJP, which was taking religious sentimentalism to a crescendo, raising issues of alleged cow slaughter in Vidisha and staking claim to a mosque in Dhar as an ancient Hindu structure.

Congress stuck with its projection of secularism even as BJP announced saffron-clad Uma Bharati as its chief ministerial candidate. Digvijaya resisted any saffronisation of the party unit even as VHP called in

and Praveen Togadia to address public meetings. The strategy did not change much in 2008 or in 2013, when the Modi wave swept the nation.

But three defeats and 15 years later, Congress is suddenly seen in different robes. Rahul is projected as ‘Shivbhakt’ on posters after his

, and ‘Ram Bhakt’ when he is in Chitrakoot. In Jabalpur, he was portrayed as a devotee of Ma Narmada. Even during the Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka elections, the AICC chief was seen temple-hopping — and the party garnered votes wherever he was seen standing with folded hands before deities.

The battle for Madhya Pradesh is more intense, so is Congress’ newly acquired saffron streak. The party promises cow protection, a gau shala in every panchayat and stunned BJP with its announcement of Ram Van Gaman Path Yatra — retracing Lord Ram’s exile in MP. Congress posters show Rahul as a “pandit”, just like his great-grandfather

.

Rahul’s official campaign started after offering puja at Kamtanath temple in Chitrakoot, where it is believed that Lord Rama spent 11 of his 14 years in exile. A Congress delegation under Harishankar Shukla along with sadhus is presently tracking the route Lord Rama took from Chitrakoot to Amarkantak.

Congress has promised to develop MP into a “religious hub” if voted to power. Kamal Nath said, “BJP uses religion only for political gain but Congress will truly develop the state into a religious tourism hub.”

A senior leader in the state Congress said, “In the last five years, Rahul Gandhi has learnt to answer in BJP’s language. He is actively countering BJP’s Hindutva agenda with more Hindutva. No one can now say he is anti-Hindu. He is strategically attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only on issues of corruption, inflation, unemployment but also on Hindutva.” BJP claims it is unaffected by Congress’ saffronisation. BJP national vicepresident Prabhat Jha took swipe at Rahul, saying, “It is BJP’s credit that Rahul Gandhi has turned a Hindu. He knows now that without support of the majority community, Congress cannot win elections. This is not a threat for us, we are amused. Where is secularism of Congress now? Why has that taken a back seat?”

Jha advised Congress to “do some homework on Hinduism”. “In Jabalpur, the AICC president was participating in Narmada aarti in the afternoon. Congress should have known that aarti is done after sunset. We may not see God everywhere but the Almighty is omnipresent. Maa Narmada knows this was Congress’ chunavi aarti (electoral aarti),” Jha said.