Narendra Modi-RSS Tussle Intensifies Over Choice Of New BJP President

In the last one hundred years since its founding,, the RSS had never faced such an existential crisis as it is happening now with its row with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a former leading pracharak. In 2003 the RSS had faced a big fight with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, but that related to organisational issues. Vishwa Hindu Parishad forcing issues like acquiring land for the Ayodhya temple and its ‘Chetna Yatra’ were some of the major issues. However in May 2003, L K Advani, the then deputy prime minister, persuaded the RSS to agree to a ceasefire in view of the 2004 Lok Sabha polls.

One thing was quite explicit that RSS had an upper hand and the crisis did not have the histrionic element of ego, as is manifest in the current crisis. The challenge does not have any policy and political plane. The crisis the RSS is facing has narcissistic dynamics. It has the basic element of fascist operative. Narendra Modi in order to have his authority enforced is not even hesitant to go to the extent of forcing RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat out of organisation.

Insiders recall that this nature of confrontation had never happened in the past. Even for Atal Behari Vajpayee and L K Advani, the supremacy of RSS was of vital importance. But the latest challenge which has come from Modi is egoist in character and endangering the very existence of the organisation. He desires that the RSS leadership should follow his diktats. It is purely of the nature of asserting his autocratic authority.

The war of attrition surfaced some three years back which got manifested in the disgust at the functioning of Modi, expressed by the RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale who took charge office in 2021. But the RSS chief refusing to take action and unwilling to show Modi his right place, has turned him more arrogant. He had started projecting himself as the super boss.

Centralisation of power and Modi’s acute desire to diktat the functioning of the Sangh Parivar, has simply strained his relations with the RSS leaders. But it was the soft corner of Bhagwat for Modi that helped him has his say without any deterrence. But his electoral narratives and nature of campaigning simply aggravated the situation. His systematic thrust on “Modi’s Guarantee” and raising the slogan of “Abki baar 400 ke paar” turned the RSS leaders sceptical.

It is widely known that a group of Gujarati businessmen and industrialists ever since Modi became the chief minister of state, had been promoting him and even projecting him in their circle as the Emperor of India. These people were primarily responsible for instilling in him a feeling that he is the only leader who can lead India to a golden period. They had assured him that resources would never be a problem and he must pursue his goal. This continuing euology from his industrialist friends made him arrogant and authoritarian. His launching Operation Lotus to install BJP governments in Maharashtra, MP and other states must be seen in this backdrop.. RSS was not in know of this initially but later, the leaders agreed to be a part of the operation.

The worst nature of shock treatment to RSS was delivered by the BJP president J P Nadda by saying “BJP does not need RSS support now. The party has grown and everyone has got their own duties and roles. RSS is a cultural and social organisation and we are a political organisation… It’s not the question of need. It’s an ideological front.” Nadda does not possess high stature in the party. He is supposed to be a lieutenant of Amit Shah, not even of Modi. Obviously these words were not his. The magnitude of Modi’s and Shah’’s trust that Nadda enjoys could be gauged from the simple fact that he was chosen by Modi-Shah to deride RSS, just a couple of days ahead of the seventh- round of polling.

The RSS leaders had not taken this arrogance lightly. For obvious reasons they maintained low profile. RSS needed a BJP government for its expansion and accomplishing its mission of transforming India into a Hindu Rashtra. But at the same time they abhorred Modi’s autocratic behaviour. True enough, the RSS leaders were aware of the ballgame Modi and Shah were playing. In fact they also tried to send their message to Modi through Bhagwat. But Bhagwat’s words of caution lacked enough punch and thrust which the RSS leaders expected. According to a RSS leader “it was vegetarian in nature”. Bhagwat even did not name Modi. This had caused immense anguish among the RSS leaders.

Though Mohan Bhagwat criticised the BJP leaders on several counts, his ambivalence, not specifically mentioning Modi by name, had in fact given rise to apprehensions about his real intentions. His observation even came in for severe criticism in the organisational circle. It was decoded as his attempt to shield Modi and allow him to head the new government.

If the insiders are to be relied, the original BJP leaders who have got elected as MPs, were not agreeable to support Modi for the third term. They had conveyed their disenchantment to the RSS bosses. Modi reacting swiftly got himself elected as the NDA leader even before BJP parliamentary party elected him as its leader.

Nevertheless the latest issue that has really pit the RSS leaders against Modi is the latter’s design to have some one of his choice as the new party chief. Modi has come to realise that BJP parliamentary Party was split between the group of turncoats and the original BJP leaders. Basically RSS was against giving tickets to turncoats who had come from Congress. But Modi overruled its objections. If the party sources are to be believed out of 240 candidates who got elected nearly 132 are turncoats and had no relation with the RSS. They are loyal to Modi and not to RSS. Most of these turncoats have been bitter critics of RSS.

Modi is dependent on these turncoats for his survival and projecting them as his strength he intends to control the BJP as well as RSS. RSS leaders also hold the view that he intends to have his own loyalist as the speaker of Lok Sabha. He is already working on the plan to launch again “Operation Lotus” and induct the defectors in the party so as to have one party rule, without depending on the allies. That way, a list of 35 members elected from other parties I being prepared to enable BJP to become the majority party

Though the RSS is maintaining silence on this issue, the leadership knows that Modi wants to have someone from his lobby as the president of the party. RSS leaders are sceptical of Modi’s moves. These leaders nurse the feeling that in his quest to emerge as the supreme authority of saffron cult and the rightist forces, Modi desires to have both BJP and RSS under his belt. He has been working on the plan to turn RSS irrelevant. Basically his insinuation against Muslims and intensifying the hate campaign was driven with this in aim and to project himself as the ruthless face of Hindutva.

Some BJP leaders close to Modi had started accusing RSS and especially Bhagwat of diluting the idea and politics of Hindutva. Their argument is simple; RSS could not achieve during its 90 yearlong functioning what Modi did during his ten years of rule. He has popularised the philosophy of Hindutva and reached this to every Hindu. It is for him the cadre base of RSS has increased. Earlier the people were hesitant to identify with the BJP, now it is the biggest party.

Naturally Modi expects that his contribution should be acknowledged by the RSS and he ought to be projected as the only face of Hindutva. A section of the party already acknowledges him as the Hindu Hridya Samrat. His supporters have even made a move to replace Bhagwat. The RSS was against nominating the turncoats who had come from Congress or some other party. But Modi did not respect its suggestion.

Modi is dependent on these turncoats for his survival and projecting them as his strength he intends to control the BJP as well as RSS. RSS leaders also hold the view that he intends to have his own loyalist as the speaker of Lok Sabha. He is already working on the plan to relaunch “Operation Lotus” and induct the defectors in the party so as to attain the rule of a single party, without depending on the allies.

RSS is planning to install either Sanjay Joshi or Vinod Tawade as the new president. Joshi is known for his strained relations with Modi, but Tawade is an amicable person, close to both the factions. Meanwhile Modi and his lieutenant Amit Shah are planning to get the nod of the BJP leaders to let Nadda continue as the president till the assembly elections in three key states; Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand. Modi is determined to win these elections. This will simply add to his strength and will place him in more enviable position. (IPA Service)