What's the roadmap ahead for RSS-BJP bond? -- Fast forward
 |
| Modi, Keshubhai Patel and others |
A man is known by the company he keeps. This is generally true for the BJP as a political outfit vis-a-vis its relationship with the RSS.
In fact, doyens of pro-Hindutva philosophy politics Ike LK Advani have called RSS-BJP bond as the umbilical cord. Students of Biology can tell us that the umbilical cord is a flexible, tube-like structure that connects a developing fetus to the placenta.
As the Modi Govt completed 12 years in office and created a new record of having PM Narendra Modi as the 'longest serving elected PM' surpassing Nehru; it is not without good reason that all eyes are on the future course the Sanghparivar fountainhead RSS chooses for itself.
It was/is more than an exciting event on cards (or in the past) as time and again an impression has gone that Nagpur does not approve of the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah 'hegemony' in all aspects of running of the saffron party and running of the NDA government.
However, the 'past and the present' events related to the RSS-BJP relationship deserve a closer scrutiny. Contrary to the impression that it is Prime Minister Modi chiefly who is pushing all veterans into sidelines sources both in BJP and RSS confirm that right from 2013 the Sanghparivar fountain-head has been in "control" of things.
In fact, about the BJP team formed by Rajnath Singh after being elected as national president in March 2013 showed "Kisi ek neta ki nahi chali".
The RSS diktat was to work on next generation leaders. This was carried forward under a well thought and planned system and hence younger generation leaders were encouraged and projected too.
Now that Nitin Nabin (age-) is the new president; things are further crystal clear.
On March 31, 2013 precisely the Easter Day-the then BJP president Rajnath Singh announced the bearers' names and also national executive of the party. It had a fine balance of caste, community and politi-co-societal considerations.
But more importantly the new team of BJP had a clear imprint of the RSS. A senior leader later summed up the complex decisions in fewer words. "For the first time in 33 years since formation of BJP in 1980, the party had shown dead woods their place and created a second generation in most states".
This push to the generation next polity was given a much crucial bolster in 2014 after Amit Shah replaced Rajnath Singh as the BJP president. The move to inculcate fresh blood or new faces was refreshing and RSS insiders later said the "transition' was akin to L. K Advani's moves in 1980s when the likes of Pramod Mahajan and Sushma Swaraj were encouraged.
Mohan Bhagwat
In 2014, it goes without saying the RSS also deputed one of its dynamic and then a media friendly personality Ram Madhav as the BJP gen-eral secretary. While PM Modi and BJP chief Shah are often accused of being 'autocratic', in the case of Ram Madhav he was given key responsibilities to handle trouble torn state of Jammu and Kashmir and "almost a free hand about Nagaland and other north eastern states".
That Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio survived so long especially after 2018 is a testimony to the influence of Ram Madhav.
Sanghparivar leaders also say that in 2013 the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had categorically instructed Rajnath Singh that no general secretary should be above 50. It was a blueprint for the future.
At the same time Amit Shah was allowed to be made the general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh and the outcome is known to all.
The state of UP ultimately gave BJP as many as magical 71 seats and the NDA tally was 73.
Rajnath Singh
RSS and Policy Making:
The decision to frame a New Education Policy (NEP) was taken around 2014 itself. And after many twists and turns today the NEP bears the clear imprint of of the RSS ideology or Hindutva punctuated.
It talks about ancient civilizational values and neo nationalism. PM Modi has also made it clear that his vision on ‘New India’ will actually represent the strongest pillars of original RSS agenda – Uniform Civil Code, emphasis on Patriotism, Cultural Unity and moral roots.
More than once key BJP leaders and RSS ideologues have stated that the ideology hold of Nagpur must be strengthened on the BJP and crucial government departments.
It was argued that the “Congress suffered” immensely in terms of people's perception and a party’s value system and principles because - it was influenced and guided by ministers.
Under Modi, hence it was a deliberate decision that the BJP and RSS should continue to “guide” the ministers and even prescribe “Dos and Don’ts” for critical ministries.
In fact, all key leaders PM Modi, RSS chief Bhagwat, Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath (he is non-RSS background man) have been working to a good script and ensured that the BJP is in the "right synchronisation with the RSS on Education system, Swadeshi Economy and Growth, Ram temple and other pro-Hindutva agenda like Art 370 and Uniform Civil Code.
In 2017-the Sanghparivar fountainhead did not mind the experiment and allowed Yogi Adityanath to be made the UP Chief Minister. And this also fetched dividends. West Bengal election was a testimony of good team work between RSS and the BJP.
But Indian politics and Indian public are unpredictable. No final word can be said about polity and more so in the manner RSS leadership would handle the post UP elections of 2027.
But in case if certain or all all calculation goes topsy-turvy; heads will certainly roll.
No comments:
Post a Comment