Dhar: Just five months ahead of the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has said 'hindutva' will not be its poll plank and accused its main political rival Congress of "cloning" it on the controversial issue.

BJP's chief ministerial candidate Uma Bharti, however asserts that the Bhojshala issue, which threatens to turn into another Ayodhya, will be an issue of "shraddha" (sentiments) for the party during the polls.

She spoke about it after visiting and offering prayers at the disputed complex in Dhar during her ongoing state-wide 'rath yatra', a move seen as an indication that the party wants to associate itself with the issue in run-up to the polls.

"We will not use 'hindutva' as a poll issue... I don't have to prove my sentiments for 'hindutva'. Our main issues for polls will be development of the state," Bharti told a group of journalists from Delhi on June 3.

She, however, accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the state's Chief Minister Digvijay Singh of "cloning" BJP on 'hindutva' and other religious matters.

"While Sonia has started going to temples and offering garlands to Hanuman, Digvijay Singh has issued directions to his ministers and MLAs (Members of legislative Assembly) to organise prayers," Bharti charged adding, "This indicates that they are losing confidence."

PTI