The BJP has taken criticism from its detractors in its stride so far, but criticism from its parent organisation, the RSS, is definitely proving to be the unkindest cut of all. Frequent advice given publicly by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is generating disquiet in the party.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar issued a statement on Tuesday denying there was any heartburn in the party over attempts by RSS to micro-manage its affairs. But such sentiments have started being voiced.
Even the RSS denies it controls the BJP, though formal statements like “BJP will take its own decisions” are increasingly being overshadowed by comments like “we expect the BJP to do this … we expect the BJP would do this before…”.
The BJP leadership is not quite enthused. The mood in the party is to resist this “interference” in the party. It is also not in keeping with the RSS character, they point out.
As a BJP leader said, “No sarsanghchalak (RSS chief) has been so proactive, given so many interviews and said so many things in such a short time.” Earlier, RSS chiefs would rarely make a public appearance, and give one interview a year to a select journalist, until Mohan Bhagwat took over as RSS chief in March.
Also, the RSS chief’s wish was occasionally conveyed in the form of a mild signal or suggestion and compliance was prompt. Nowadays, advice and comments are becoming frequent. Perhaps the RSS feels the need to do so considering the state of affairs in the BJP: trouble in the central leadership and in state units as factions take their fight to different parts of the country to make their clout felt.
If this shows an erosion of the BJP leadership’s authority, the reluctance by central leaders to follow the RSS “advise” shows a loosening of RSS control over BJP. An open defiance of RSS, however, is still far away and unthinkable to most in the BJP.
Prakash Javadekar said there was no anger in the party at Mohan Bhagwat’s statement in a recent interview that four central leaders were ruled out for the post of party president and it would be occupied by somebody from outside Delhi.
“There is no RSS interference in BJP affairs. It is media interpretation. He said BJP will take its own decisions,” Javadekar said. The RSS and BJP were one ideological family the Sangh was a “power house” that serves as the source of the ideology, he said.
Asked if there was any possibility of the BJP parting ways with the RSS, he said, “Relations between two brothers or sisters never ends.”
