Fly on the wall
The RSS-BJP Riddle
The results of 2024 Lok Sabha polls with the BJP missing the magic figure of 272 seats in a House of 543, may have shocked millions of Modi-Bhakts. But many in the Sangh Parivar believe that the BJP leadership is itself to be blamed for such a messy situation. They say that the BJP ignored early warnings given to it by the RSS leaders. They had apprised the BJP about “rural distress” and other weaknesses in the countryside and urged that the same be addressed without delay. But the BJP was extremely over-confident and living in its own make-believe world. The RSS was seeing a repeat moment of 2004 when Atal Behari Vajpayee was riding on “the India shining moment” and missed the bus by a handful of Lok Sabha seats. In 2024, the BJP-led NDA government did the same 20 years later and relied on a sky-rocketing share market. It claimed to create history by “Abki Baar ….400 Paar”. In its over enthusiasm, the BJP did not care for the party's senior leadership in states and some of them were even humiliated. The Lok Sabha tickets were distributed to whomever it wanted ignoring recommendations of other stakeholders as per past practice. Even the process of taking the opinion of RSS pracharaks deputed to the BJP at the district level was not sought. It was in this background a report emerged that all is not well between the RSS and the BJP. No one was willing to comment on what happened in Nagpur on April 19 when PM Modi had a night halt at Raj Bhawan. The RSS leadership was worried with BJP's aggressive strategy of “open door policy” for tainted leaders and ignoring party loyalists. The image that the BJP is a party with a difference has been compromised in order to attain a brute majority. Though RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat was also in the city to cast his vote, the suspense continues on the issue.
The Nadda shocker
In the midst of all this, came the finale when BJP president J P Nadda said in an interview in the midst of Lok Sabha polls that the party needed the RSS during the initial period. “Now that the party has grown and capable, the BJP can run on its own”, he added. It was a clear message to the RSS that its 'pracharaks' are no longer needed to help the BJP in its political work. The absence of BJP general secretary (Organization) B L Santosh from the media glare for the past few months may be largely due to this very reason. Insiders in the Sangh Parivar say that the current BJP dispensation didn't like any back-seat driving in the decision making process. The RSS will continue to be its ideological mentor but it will not be playing any role in its day-to-today activities. The RSS workers, it is said, did not play any pro-active in these elections either. Ever since the RSS floated its political wing in 1952 under the nomenclature of Bhartiya Jan Sangh, this was the first time it did not play any role in the poll process including selection of candidates and related activities. With the BJP getting a big jolt in the Lok Sabha polls, the last word on their future relationship is yet to be written.
A shocker from the EC too
The Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, may have accepted his mistake by holding longest ever Lok Sabha polls stretching up to 45 days. This was the first time in Parliamentary history of the country that despite having most-modern techniques in hand, it was the longest ever poll since 1957. The first General Elections in 1952 were held between 25 October 1951 to 21 February 1952, after India attained independence in 1947. But Rajiv Kumar failed to explain as to why he did so ignoring 'Red Alert' warnings issued by the Indian Meteorological Department that a massive heat wave will engulf most parts from mid-May onward in many North Indian states. He could have held the LS polls a month ahead. But he didn't and this led to the death of even those on Election Commission's duty during April-May. He may be wiser after the event but the damage has been done.
Tailpiece: Why is everyone celebrating !
The outcome of the 18th Lok Sabha has given reasons to almost everybody to cheer it about. The BJP is happy as PM Modi is giving credit to the party and the NDA for this win. Senior party loyalists are also happy as their voices could be heard now. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath may also have a reason to smile as the BJP lost 29 Lok Sabha seats compared to 2019 as he had no important role in the selection of candidates. The Congress is happy that it made a comeback and Rahul Gandhi has proved his mettle. The BJP's allies are happy that the BJP may follow the “Coalition Dharma” now. Those Opposition leaders including Hemant Soren and Arvind Kejriwal languishing in jail, hope to get “divine justice.” Several regional parties like the Akali Dal in Punjab who were dumped by the BJP, have reasons to smile as the saffron failed to win any seat. The same goes for the JJP in Haryana and in a couple of other states too. In Maharashtra too everyone has a reason to smile. Finally; the EVM has won a long drawn battle putting all kinds of allegations to rest.
