By Arun Srivastava
RSS Supremo Mohan Bhagwat is not stepping down from his position on September 11 this year when he reaches 75 years. This decision of Bhagwat has come as a big relief to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who attains 75 years on September 17 this year- six days after Bhagwat. Both BJP and RSS leaders are relived now as for the last few weeks, there was some uncertainty about Bhagwat staying or not.
For a year Bhagwat has been pushing the issue of his retirement after attaining 75 as a strategic move to pressurise Modi to follow suit. Under the earlier plan, some RSS leaders and those from its affiliates would have called on Modi on September 17, his birthday, with flowers and shawls for bidding him good bye. Though officially the move has neither been denied nor shelved, insiders hold that a rethink is underway amongst the senior RSS leaders.
The successful implementation of the SIR has been a major factor. These sources reveal that RSS leadership had prepared the blue print of the SIR long back, around six years back. It is not the sudden creation of Narendra Modi or the ECI. It was the wrong handling of the election procedure by the RSS and BJP cadres in Maharashtra that aroused the suspicion in the opposition circle and eventually Rahul Gandhi focused on it in Karnataka.
After expose of the Karnataka designs, similar skeletons are coming out of the ECI cupboard in other states. The unearthing of the huge number of voters in one premises or one voter having a number of cards, has not happened in two months. The process was set in motion in other states. It was only after Mahadevapura expose and exhuming of fake voting cards in Bihar that the opposition parties got alerted across the country.
These sources recalled RSS taking the charge of assembly elections in Haryana, Delhi and Maharashtra. The operation was successfully experimented in these states under the watchful eyes of the RSS cadres and leaders.
These sources also point out that it was irony of ironies that the opposition did not get any inkling of the massive preparation. Nevertheless, the RSS leaders have words of praise for Narendra Modi. He succeeded in giving a shape to the saffron agenda. It is this gain of Modi that has forced RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to adopt the policy of wait and watch. With opposition parties making the SIR a big issue with the potential to wreck the BJP government, RSS leadership does not intend to precipitate the crisis more for Modi.
The RSS leadership is keeping a close watch on the turncoat BJP leaders. They feel that though Modi continues to have a firm sway over masses and BJP rank and file are firmly with him, yet the possibility of some kind of rebellion cannot be ruled out. RSS leaders do not intend that the BJP government should bow out of office and for this it is obvious that the issue of Modi quitting the office must not be pushed notwithstanding RSS’s ‘discomfort’ with his continuance in office persists.
The sources point out that the constitutions of RSS or BJP do not have any provision that leaders of the RSS and BJP, must resign from organisational and public offices once they turn 75, it was worked out only for inducting new faces and ensure that the functioning of the Sangh Parivar is not hindered. These sources point out that only after Modi became prime minister he plotted the ouster of senior leaders using this as an alibi. They say that there are many leaders who have crossed 75 years of age and at least one of them BS Yediyurappa from Karnataka. became the chief minister at the age of 76 in 2019 and continued to hold office till he attained 78 years of age.
The successful implementation of SIR, will ensure that saffron has a strong voter base and the opposition will find it really tough even to put a semblance of opposition to it. Obviously in this backdrop the RSS is not ready to create any problem for the Prime Minister. Bhagwat may not push his agenda and allow him to continue in office .
According to the RSS sources ,Bhagwat is not clear about his future moves. The only option he has is to wait and watch. He is not sure whether a new prime minister would accomplish the Sangh task. Fact cannot be denied that Modi has been very successful in achieving Hindutva objectives and goals. Any disruption at this stage may create problems for saffron ecosystem as the opposition would turn more aggressive.
One thing nonetheless is certain that Bhagwat would not prefer to press his resignation on his birthday. He would certainly continue to hold office, till the centenary celebration of RSS gains momentum; conclusion of the RSS centenary year celebrations on Dussehra in 2026. Going by the past practice, the present general secretary Dattatreya Hosabole will succeed Bhagwat as sarsanghchalak (chief of RSS). He has harmonious relations with Modi. For obvious reasons the RSS leaders would prefer to wait for some more time, till the present crisis is resolved. Insiders also maintain that this process of change of guard would not be rushed through in the middle of the centenary celebration, which would kick off on October 2, this year.
It is also said that under Hosabole, the RSS would become more ‘Modified’. RSS has proposed a society-wide initiative called Panch Parivartan (Five Transformations). The five tenets aim to work for: social harmony across communities; environment-friendly family lifestyles; pride in self-awareness; strengthening of values and affection within families; greater awareness and fulfilment of civic duties. Sources point out that Bhagwat would like to have the tenets on ground before he quits. To give shape 3-day national dialogue titled ‘100 Years of Sangh Yatra – New Horizons’ will be organised in Delhi from August 26 to 28. The event aims to reflect on the RSS’s journey over the past century and its vision for the future.
It will underline the objectives, ideology, and societal contributions of the Sangh since its inception. Coinciding with the programme, RSS has organised 3-day lecture series by Mohan Bhagwat to mark Centenary celebrations. In his lectures Bhagwat will articulate the RSS viewpoint on subjects of national and social importance. It said that he would provide a blue print for future India on the lines of 2018 event titled ‘Future of Bharat: An RSS Perspective’. (IPA Service)
