India: Ruling BJP candidate accused in 2008 bomb blast

CHANDIGARH, India

India’s ruling party is fielding a candidate in the current general elections accused of involvement in a 2008 bomb blast case.

A Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) press release on Wednesday named Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur the candidate for Bhopal constituency in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Thakur faces charged of involvement in a 2008 bomb blast in Malegaon, Maharashtra, in Western India. On Sept. 29, 2008, six people were killed and over 100 were injured in the blast. She is out on bail and facing trail in the case.

“Thakur, a controversial figure known for incendiary comments and speeches, had been associated with the BJP-linked youth outfit Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and 'Durga Vahini' or women's wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP),” local broadcaster NDTV reported on Wednesday.

Thakur, who denies the charges, told the media on Wednesday in Bhopal, “I have formally joined the BJP, I will contest the elections and will definitely win. It won't be difficult for me.”

Commenting on Thakur running, BJP spokesperson Rajnish Agrawal was quoted by news broadcaster News18 saying: “Whoever carries ideological symmetry with the party and believes in its policy and tradition could be the candidate.”

The second phase of India’s general elections is set to take place on Thursday in more than 10 states of the country.