Will the choice of the next BJP President after the present incumbent, JP Nadda’s term gets over by June end, open a new battlefront between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)? It looks so to some extent, given the barrage of razor-sharp arrows after the BJP’s electoral setback from the RSS leaders, starting from its supremo, Mohan Bhagwat. Besides, the RSS is keen to see that the new incumbent is of its choice, unlike Nadda, a Modi nominee, who dared to say that the BJP was so powerful that it no longer needed RSS help during the campaign. The predictions that Modi’s final war would be within the Sangh Parivar seem to be proving true. If the results had been better in Uttar Pradesh, RSS might have considered Yogi Adityanath or Nithin Gadkari as an alternative to Modi.

Since the election results have come, unlike his predecessors, Bhagwat, RSS’s sixth sarsanghchalak, has been continually issuing tacit warnings and sharp messages to Modi. The first came barely a week after the result when he effectively castigated the Modi government for failing to solve the conflicts in Manipur even after so many months. “Now that the election rhetoric is over, it's time to address the problems of the nation,” he said, addressing an RSS event in Nagpur. Bhagwat also tacitly endorsed the election result that brought the Opposition a new life. "Election is a process of building consensus. Parliament has two sides so that both aspects of any question can be presented".

Bhagwat’s next arrow was even sharper. He called to maintain dignity (maryada) and shed arrogance (ahankar). “A true sevak should be arrogant to claim that I did something”. Who wouldn't recall the constant roars of the “Modi ki guarantee”? Bhagwat didn't stop at that but also slammed the “vituperative and indecent language” used during the election campaign against opponents, though he didn't mention any names. None can forget the “ghuspeti” (intruders) speech. “Your opponent is not an adversary (virodhi) but represents only a counter-perspective (pratipaksha) which deserves consideration”.

Next to hit the headlines was an article in RSS’s English mouthpiece, Organiser. In the article “Conversations for Course Correction'', prominent RSS member Ratan Sharda said that the BJP’s setback was due to its overconfidence and failure to involve RSS workers in the campaign. He said the BJP workers were “happy in their bubble, enjoying the glow reflected from Modiji’s aura; they were not listening to the voices........

© Mathrubhumi English