In a major breakthrough, the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Monday announced it will not field its candidate from Bhopal for the Lok Sabha elections. The party will extend support to Congress candidate and former Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijaya Singh.

The party has taken the decision to save the "dignity of Parliament" after the BJP fielded Pragya Thakur as its candidate from Bhopal – CPI state Secretary Arvind Srivastava said.

"Fielding Pragya shows the original fascist character of the BJP. Pragya Thakur is an accused in serious cases. She was in jail for nine years. Pragya Thakur in Parliament would be against the dignity of Parliament and the constitutional democratic values. So the CPI has announced its support to Digvijaya Singh" – Srivastava added.