RSS-BJP meet starts in Kerala today

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 30

For three days starting Saturday, top functionaries of the RSS and its political affiliate BJP will gather in Kerala’s Palakkad to talk coordination and strategy for the future.

The All India Samanvay Baithak, an annual RSS event where the top Sangh brass interacts with senior representatives of its affiliate outfits, is being watched closely this year. Reason — this will be the first RSS-BJP meeting since the ruling party returned to power at the Centre with a truncated majority and heavy dependence on allies.

Part of the BJP’s losses were blamed on RSS’ indifference, with the Sangh cadres said to be upset with the BJP over lack of consultation and coordination. But after the BJP lost Lok Sabha majority, managing to stay in power with help from NDA allies, the RSS and its protege have come back together with future elections in mind. While the BJP will be represented at the meeting by party president JP Nadda, national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh and national joint general secretary (organisation) Shiv Prakash, the entire national RSS leadership will be there.

Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, and all joint general secretaries, including Arun Kumar, will be there. On RSS’ behalf, Kumar is currently coordinating with the BJP for the forthcoming state Assembly poll in J&K, Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. As many as 32 Sangh-affiliated organisations will attend the coordination meeting, where the RSS and outfits it inspires sit and chalk out the future programme and people outreach.

On the eve of the meeting, RSS media chief Sunil Ambekar said though many organisations were inspired by the Sangh, it was natural for them to become “self-sufficient and independent over a period of time”. He said the meeting would focus on national issues. “Inputs and ground-level experiences of organisations will be discussed to formulate a unified national perspective,” he said.