Attack after attack.. RSS will attack BJP more, but how will things work without each other

New Delhi: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has once again created a stir in the political corridors with his/her statements. Bhagwat’s statements are being seen as criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This time Bhagwat has indirectly targeted Modi’s claim during the Lok Sabha election campaign, in which he/she described himself as ‘an instrument of God’. Addressing a gathering in Pune, Bhagwat said, ‘We should not consider ourselves God. Let people decide whether you have God or not.’ In fact, Modi had said in an interview during the election campaign, ‘When my mother was alive, I believed that I was born biologically. After her death … I have come to believe that God has sent me. This energy cannot come from a biological body, but God has given it to me … I am a medium to do God’s work.

Bhagwat has targeted for the third time

This is the third time Bhagwat has indirectly targeted PM Modi after the Lok Sabha elections. Surprisingly, Bhagwat’s statement came after the RSS annual meeting in Palakkad, Kerala, which was also attended by BJP President JP Nadda and BL Santosh. Earlier, a high-level meeting was also held at the residence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, in which Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Nadda and RSS leaders were present. Bhagwat’s latest statement indicates that despite so many meetings, everything is not well between the Sangh and the BJP.

On what issue is the Sangh and BJP not able to reach an agreement?

Senior journalist Neerja Chaudhary said in an article in the Indian Express, Modi has implemented the main agenda of the RSS like Ram Mandir, repeal of Article 370, triple talaq and uniform civil code, but the RSS has problems with his/her way of working. The RSS leaders call this ‘individualism’. The RSS has objections to too much power in the hands of a single leader. Even in the Lok Sabha elections, the RSS workers did not campaign for the BJP with as much zeal and enthusiasm as in the previous elections. Some people consider the reason for this to be the complacency arising from the BJP’s slogan of 400 plus. At the same time, BJP President JP Nadda had said before the Lok Sabha elections that the party no longer needs to hold the hand of the Sangh. The Sangh would hardly have liked this statement of Nadda.

can’t live without each other

But both BJP and RSS are interconnected. Neither BJP can survive without RSS nor Sangh without the party. RSS will hardly wish for the return of Congress or opposition. Because Sangh knows that whatever BJP has done can be destroyed by the opposition. This includes people holding key positions in government, bureaucracy and education world to promote their ideological family members.

‘Differences will be resolved within the family’

After the Palakkad meeting, the RSS, while admitting that it has differences with the BJP, said these will be resolved within the family. The immediate issue before the BJP and the Sangh leadership is who will become the party president after Nadda and Bhagwat’s statement is being seen as an attempt to put pressure on the BJP top leadership on this. The party will clearly have to take into account the views and concerns of the RSS. Several names are being discussed for the party president to be elected in the new year. These include Sunil Bansal, Vinod Tawde, Devendra Fadnavis, Bhupendra Yadav and Dharmendra Pradhan. If the BJP does not perform well in the upcoming four assembly elections, will it be forced to call one of its senior leaders Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari or Shivraj Singh Chouhan to take charge?

Sangh supported caste census

Also, the RSS surprised everyone by supporting the caste census in Palakkad. The Sangh called for using caste data only for social welfare and not for electoral politics, which is not possible. Because economically and socially empowered Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs will naturally demand a greater share in the power structure. Also, if the OBCs find out that they are 65% of the population – as happened during the caste survey in Bihar last year – they will not be satisfied with only 27% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. By giving its approval to the caste census, the RSS has come to the rescue of the BJP. The party was facing problems due to the opposition’s persistent demand for caste census, which had an impact in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP will have to take a decision on the caste census. So far it has been ambiguous on this.