Taking the cadres by complete surprise, the RSS chief KS Sudarshan on Saturday announced his retirement and anointed Dr Mohan Bhagwat as his successor.
Taking the cadres by complete surprise, the RSS chief KS Sudarshan on Saturday announced his retirement and anointed Dr Mohan Bhagwat as his successor.
Not completely unexpected, the move though has come as a surprise given the timing and secrecy maintained by the core group of the RSS about the change.
Fifty-eight-year-old Bhagwat’s elevation as the Sarsanghchalak comes at a crucial juncture and marks the beginning of a new era in the RSS that would, according to insiders, see some sweeping organizational changes within and in its affiliates.
Media shy but considered a deft organizer Bhagwat commands very high respect in the Sangh Parivar and has been virtually handling the organisational affairs as the number two since 2000 when Sudarshan took over as the chief from Professor Rajendra Singh alias Rajju Bhaiyya. Bhagwat is known as a mass mobiliser, but a hardliner who would follow a no-nonsense line while dealing with its affiliates.
Sangh insiders say the move is an obvious indication of the gen-next taking the centre-stage, while the veterans donning the role of advisory members.
As reported by DNA on March 20, the Sangh is seeking to regain organizational supremacy in the Parivaar, an order that existed during the Jan Sangh period. With Bhagwat at the helm of the affairs now, the process has been accelerated.
Sangh insiders say Bhagwat is known to take a pragmatic approach but would not compromise on the discipline, spirit and ideals of the organization.
The Sangh is already trying to reach out to people from apolitical and non-RSS background with expertise in diverse fields to form a sort of social parliament in India that works as a pressure group.
Insiders say Bhagwat keeps open an informal information channel to keep tab on the happenings all over, something that the third chief Balasaheb Deoras would follow. “He’ll not limit himself to the BJP, but will support any political party or group that is in line with the Sangh ideals and goals,” says a Sangh observer.
After being the chief for nine years, 78-year-old Sudarshan cited his “advancing age and receding health” as the reason for the new leadership to step in.
“I am accepting this responsibility on the strength of my faith in our cadres,” Bhagwat remarked addressing over 1400 delegates, following his installation on the second day of the ongoing three-day Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha.
Sudarshan, he said, would continue to be the guide and philosopher of the RSS.
Till Saturday morning, the Sangh functionaries did not mince a word or express even the remotest possibility of the change of guard. But as the event unfolded, Sudarshan announced his decision to retire handing over the reigns to Bhagwat.
By the afternoon, the Sangh had sent invites to all its volunteers in the city to be present in full uniform at Reshimbaug grounds in the evening for a Yuvak Sammelan, an event that is usually held when the new Sarsanghachalak steps in.
Late afternoon, the Pratinidhi Sabha elected Suresh alias Bhaiyyaji Joshi, 60, as the new Sarkaryavah (general secretary). Joshi, who hails from Madhya Pradesh but has spent much time in Maharashtra, was the joint general secretary so far.
Significantly, the BJP president, Rajnath Singh, who had conveyed his inability to attend the three-day conclave on Friday flew in by
a morning flight to Nagpur on Saturday apparently to attend the ceremony of taking over of the new RSS chief.
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