BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday appealed to all beneficiaries of central and state government schemes in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh to light a lamp on Wednesday and celebrate “kamal deepawali” to pledge for their “developed” state to turn “prosperous”.

Kamal or lotus is the BJP’s election symbol, and Shah’s call was seen as an attempt to send a message to voters that a BJP government was needed at the Centre and in the state for development.

“Prime Minister Modi and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan have extended welfare schemes to every household of Madhya Pradesh. I call upon beneficiaries of central and state government schemes to light a lamp on 21st Nov. and celebrate ‘kamal deepawali’ to mark the progress of the state and take a pledge to make the state prosperous,” Shah tweeted.

During Diwali early this month, many BJP leaders, including a Union minister, had appealed to voters to light one earthen lamp for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. This appeared to be an effort to bring the construction of a grand Ram temple back on people’s minds and use it for political benefits ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Party leaders said the BJP-RSS workers have been asked to spread the campaign on the ground in Madhya Pardesh to ensure a large number of people light lamps and, in the process, promise votes for the BJP in the November 28 polls.

“The call for lighting a lamp and pledging for a prosperous Madhya Pradesh is a campaign tool to highlight the importance of development in the election. No other party is committed to development like the BJP,” a BJP leader said.

After three terms in power, the BJP is battling anti-incumbency, particularly anger in the rural areas because of farm distress.

In his campaign, Modi has been repeatedly asking voters not to commit the mistake (of voting for the Congress), accusing the rival of failing to deliver despite ruling the country for 55 years.

Modi is saying the “double-engine” strength of his government at the Centre and a BJP government in the state would ensure that Madhya Pradesh turns into a prosperous state.