Church thrilled as three Christians win election in Hindu state

Not long after a Christian political party was launched, Church has other reasons to rejoice. In the Hindu state of Madhya Pradesh, three Christians on the ticket of Congress party have won the election during the state assembly.

Xavier Meda, Joseph Pachilal Meda, and Ratnesh Solomon were of other thirteen Christians among 3,179 candidates who contested during last month's election.

Although pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party came to power, Church leaders say, the participation of Christians in the election has been of a big boost to the Church.

Their victory is "a very positive sign," Archbishop Leo Cornelio told UCA News. He said the results would encourage more Christians to get involved in politics, asserting that the results show that "people inimical to Christians are very few, otherwise no Christian could have been elected."

The success of the Christians partly goes to the ecumenical Isai Mahasangh (IM) in the Hindu state that instilled political awareness among Christians. "

A Bishop in the state noted that the Christian ecumenical group "did a wonderful job" in organizing the community for election and facing new challenges.

According to IM President Joshi Kurisungal, the previous assembly had no Christians contesting for election and this was a huge drawback.

In Madhya Pradesh, of 60 million people, Christians account for 200,000, half a percent only.

The state has recently witnessed attacks on Christians, mostly Churches burnt and pastors arrested on false charges.

Last month, a group of Christians in New Delhi, formed the Indian Minority Front to "fight for the rights of religious minorities".

Its founder Rajiv Joseph says, we will "fight for justice, not just ask and wait for it."

According to Joseph, the failure of political bodies in responding to the atrocities over Christians by Hindu hardliners led to the initiative.