Indore:

Amid a barrage of acerbic remarks exchanged between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress ahead of the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Sunday saw a moment of rare bonhomie between two potential rivals.

Congress MLA Sanjay Shukla, who represents the Indore 1 constituency and will in all likelihood be fielded by his party from there, touched the feet of senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya, whose name has already been announced for the same seat.

A video of Shukla’s act of respect for the BJP general secretary soon became a subject of like, share, repost and forward on social media.

The video shows Shukla, who was in the audience, standing up to say that Vijayvargiya was an honourable figure for him and then goes on to touch his feet.

The two leaders were attending a collective forgiveness function of the Jain community at Gommatgiri crossing in Indore.

Vijayvargiya reciprocated the gesture by hugging Shukla, demonstrating the rare gesture of bonhomie between the probable rival candidates.

During the mass forgiveness function of the Jain community, people apologise to each other for the mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly. This event has religious significance in the Jain community.

The Congress and BJP have upped the ante against each other by resorting to non-stop wranglings ahead of the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls due by the year-end.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have repeatedly visited the state in recent months, the BJP has fielded seven MPs, including three Union ministers, and Vijayvargiya apparently to overcome anti-incumbency.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Indore:

After BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya was fielded in the upcoming Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, party supporters started celebrations in Indore on Monday.

The BJP supporters celebrated outside the residence of Mr Vijayvargiya in Indore.

Meanwhile, the BJP leader said that the central leadership’s decision was “surprising” and that he will do whatever they say. Mr Vijayvargiya has been fielded from Indore-1 constituency.

Speaking to ANI, he said, “This is the party’s order. I was told that I would be assigned work that I would not say ‘no’ and I would have to do it. When the tickets were declared, I too was surprised. I am the party’s soldier. I will do whatever they say.”

“Although I had said that I do not want to contest the elections, senior leaders of the party gave me some directions the day before yesterday. I was in a conundrum and after the announcement was made, I was left surprised. I am privileged that I got the opportunity to participate in electoral politics and I will try to fulfil the party’s expectations,” he added.

The ruling BJP on Monday released its second list of 39 candidates for the forthcoming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. The new list, announced hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a massive gathering of BJP workers in Bhopal, includes four party MPs and three Union Ministers.

The BJP’s second list features three central ministers — Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of State (MoS) for Food Processing Industries Prahlad Singh Patel, and Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel Faggan Singh Kulaste.

While Mr Tomar will contest from the Dimni seat, Mr Patel and Mr Kulaste will contest from Narsingpur and Niwas respectively.

The BJP released its first list of candidates on August 17, revealing the names of 39 candidates.

Madhya Pradesh is scheduled to go for the assembly polls later this year.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)