Pokharan, the country's go-to place for testing war-preparedness and nuclear prowess, is now in the spotlight for a completely different battle. The BJP and Congress have, in a calculated move, fielded religious heads of two different communities setting the stage for a "holy war" as never witnessed before.
The BJP pitched its candidate first: god-man Pratap Puri Maharaj aimed at dousing the Rajput community's ire in western Rajasthan, aggravated by Sheo legislator Manvendra Singh's recent departure to join the Congress.
Congress raised Saleh Mohammad in retaliation: The son of respected pir Gazi Fakir holds a considerable sway in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts, which share a border with Pakistan. Muslims, along with Rajputs, form a sizeable portion of the electorate, as does a substantial Jat and Meghwal population, say Congress office bearers. As BJP's 50-year-old celibate saint from Taratra Peeth enjoys immense reverence among Rajputs, the party is hoping to woo the community in these districts.
However, the face-off between a Hindu saint and the kin of a Muslim seer is expected to lead to drastic polarisation not just in Pokharan, but also on adjoining seats.
"I was never a contender for a ticket," Pratap Puri Maharaj told DNA, "But the other seers told me to take up this responsibility as animosity was growing between communities in this region. People today demand their representatives, and I will take this as an opportunity to serve them."
Saleh Mohammad comes with some experience, having served as a legislator from the constituency earlier. "The party has trusted me again, and I shall live up to the work done by my family," he said. Saleh Mohammad lost by over 30,000 votes in the 2013 Assembly elections to BJP's then sitting legislator, Shaitan Singh Rathore.
THE NEW HOLY WAR
- Pratap Puri Maharaj candidature is aimed at wooing the Rajputs
- Saleh Mohammad served as a legislator from the constituency earlier
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 "Pratap Puri Maharaj (left) and Saleh Mohammad")
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