With more than half-a-million Muslims, Indore is communally sensitive and forms part of the Malwa region, a traditional RSS stronghold. But given their scattered presence, varying from 15 to 20 per cent in the nine constituencies here, Muslims are the most neglected lot.

Sixtyfive-year-old Abdul Qadir of Bombay Bazar no longer rues the fact that not a single candidate contesting from Indore-4 constituency has visited the area yet. Bombay Bazar is estimated to have around 20,000 Muslims. “We don’t expect Malini Gaur to come; even Laxman Singh Gaur never came here. And the Congress candidate knows our votes are secure whether he comes or not,” he says.

Notwithstanding the Congress’ attempt to corner the BJP on “terror”, the issue has failed to gain ground in Indore. Fearing a possible backlash by the majority community, even local Congress candidates seem wary of raising the issue.

Congress candidate from Indore-5, Shobha Ojha, focuses on roads, water, sanitation, schools. “The BJP is anti-minority and I don’t need to state the obvious. I would rather focus on development,” she said on Thursday.

Even the advertising war between the Congress and BJP focuses on “development”. On Thursday, a BJP advertisement in major dailies described how electricity generation in the state increased in the five years of the BJP regime. On the same page, the Congress advertisement with Rahul Gandhi’s photograph claimed that with the “international nuclear deal”, electricity would reach every village.