RSS's clear message to BJP: Don’t expect help from us, make your own ground

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has reportedly conveyed his message to the BJP's newly appointed president Amit Shah that unlike Lok Sabha polls party's parent organisation won't help it in the upcoming Assembly polls in Delhi, Haryana and Maharashtra.

New BJP chief's first visit to Nagpur:

Amit Shah after appointment as the party chief arrived in Nagpur to seek the blessings of Sarsanghchalak. In his first visit to Maharashtra, after his appointment, the BJP chief received a rousing welcome at the Nagpur airport by Maharashtra BJP president Davendra Phadanvis, Leader of Opposition in State Legislative Council, Vinod Tawade, along with other party MPs and local legislators. Following this, the BJP chief drove straight to offer floral tributes to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at 'Deekshabhoomi' where he was received by office bearers of Dr Ambedkar Smarak Samiti, Vilas Godghate and Sudhir Fulzele.

He later held a luncheon meeting with Phadanvis, Tawade, Khaopde, Deshmukh, Pankaja Munde and others at Dharampeth. Shah, a close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will also be visiting RSS headquarters in Mahal and also the 'Smruti Mandir' in Reshimbagh to meet the RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat and General Secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi. The meeting assumes significance in view of the forthcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra.

RSS's message to Shah:

Later, Shah met RSS chief and other Sangh leaders on Friday. It was during this meet when the Sarsanghchalak, Bhagwat, conveyed his message to the BJP national president that he should not expect their support in the upcoming state polls and the party needs to stand on its own to repeat the success of the Lok Sabha polls.

RSS wants the BJP to create an image of its own

Riding over Modi-wave, the party made a historic victory in the Lok Sabha polls and clinched a clear majority on its own. During polls Sangh heavily campaigned for Narendra Modi and left no stones unturned to ensure BJP's victory. It seems the parental organisation now wants the saffron party to prepare its own ground in the states where elections are nearing and also strengthen its grass root workers. This would eventually help the party to increase its foothold at the local levels and strengthen its cadre.

Stop depending on Modi-wave:

Seems the Sangh wants the party to get over with its dependence on Modi-wave and improve its own image. With this message Bhagwat has cleared that BJP's master strategist should not be content with party's roaring success in the Lok Sabha polls, instead work harder to cement party's position in non-BJP ruled states as well.

Rumours of alleged horse-trading in Delhi:

Sangh seems to be a little miffed with the BJP's fluctuating stand on the issue of government formation in national capital Delhi. Rumours of BJP horse-trading with disgruntled Congress and AAP MLAs has certainly not gone down well with the RSS. The organisation has already expressed its displeasure in this regard and wants the BJP to come out clean on such baseless allegations. The Sangh leadership has conveyed the BJP to stick to its stand of going for a fresh round of polls in Delhi.

There is no denying the fact that the BJP's image has taken a beating ever since the state witnessed its worst ever power crisis, immediately after the Narendra Modi government came to power. This made party leaders reluctant about fresh polls fearing that criticism over power woes, inflation and hike in railway fare might work against the party if it goes for an immediate poll in the national capital. This was perhaps a reason why some senior party leaders were hinting towards exploring ‘all possible options' towards government formation in Delhi. After RSS's directive and intra-party discussion the BJP has cleared that fresh poll is what they'll go for.

Shah has already held a meeting with Core Committee members of State BJP in Delhi as the first round of discussion with state leaders earlier this week.

RSS has other works to do:

Apart from preparing grounds for the BJP, the RSS has as many as 31 other social welfare organisations to look after. Now that the country has come under able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sangh wants to focus on functioning of its organisational works as well. This could a deliberate move from the RSS's side which is involved in lots of social work.