Fly On the Wall | A battle royal between two Chankyas

Fly On the Wall
by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

A battle royal between two Chankyas

If all goes as per plans, the country may soon be on the cusp of a battle royal between BJP's Chankya Amit Shah and Opposition’s poll strategist Prashant Kishore, “PK”. Both were key strategists for Narendra Modi’s Prime Ministerial campaign in 2014 and fell out later. The Congress is on the verge of picking PK as its key poll strategist until the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. A decision is likely anytime next week. PK will not charge any fee for his services as he will be formally joining the Congress. He has told the three Gandhis that if inducted, he will oversee the party's poll strategies in all the elections leading up to 2024. He said the situation can be retrieved in Punjab and Uttarakhand is winnable if the right kind of strategy is adopted. But he would like to make a big beginning with Gujarat and Karnataka where Assembly polls will be held in November 2022. The BJP and Congress are in direct contest in these states. The BJP can be defeated in its home turf in Gujarat after 27 years of being in power. Before inducting PK, Sonia Gandhi wants the stamp of approval of all CWC members. The party men are happy that finally Rahul Gandhi is listening to somebody and may act on his advice.

Why PK fell out with Shah

Though 'PK' was part of Modi’s core team in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Modi was so impressed by PK’s skills that he was allotted a place on the top floor of the CM's residence itself. PK had also given Modi a blueprint to overhaul the bureaucracy on the US pattern where thousands of officers come and go with the new Presidents. When Modi asked PK what role he would like to play, the latter wanted to be named as BJP's Poll Strategist. If there could be a general secretary (organization), why not general secretary (poll strategy)? Modi was willing to consider but Amit Shah nixed it soon after taking over as BJP Chief. Modi dithered and PK moved out. Amit Shah and PK were face to face for the first time in Bihar and Delhi Assembly polls in 2015 and BJP was decisively defeated. But PK didn't get the desired credit. The victories in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh were discounted as BJP was a junior partner in these states. PK also tasted failure in 2017 in UP. His golden moment came seven years later when he trounced Amit Shah in West Bengal in 2021 in a big way. It was a huge setback for Shah and a beaming PK claimed “he is BJP’s overrated Poll Manager.”

Disquiet in RSS

There is disquiet in the RSS these days. A top RSS leader put it very aptly: “Aajkal prasannta ka vatavaran nahin Hai.” (Nowadays, the atmosphere is not pleasant). He did not elaborate but the disconnect between the BJP and the RSS is clearly visible. The RSS was not happy with the way the government handled CAA and three Farm Acts and the talks should have been held. The recent Cabinet reshuffle widened the gulf as wings of Nitin Gadkari were further clipped when the MSME ministry was taken away.

As if this was not enough, most of the recommendations of the RSS for new inductions were ignored. The RSS Chief, Mohan Bhagwat’s statement that the government and Society, both, have to understand and learn lessons from the Covid pandemic, was seen as an oblique criticism of the government.

But the Pegasus telephone tapping scandal that rocked governments world over, created a major disconnect. It has surfaced now that telephone numbers of many RSS functionaries including a senior one were under watch. It is learnt that a top-most officer of the Modi dispensation visited Chitrakoot where Pratinidhi Sabha was being held in the second week of July. The meet was significant as it came much before the Pegasus snooping scandal officially surfaced on July 18. He had a long chat with RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat. What transpired between them is not known. But many say that the tweet of Subramanian Swamy on July 18 morning that tapping the phones of PM Modi’s cabinet ministers, RSS leaders and others will be disclosed soon. Obviously, this person was sent to Chitrakoot on a fire-fighting mission as the government knew beforehand that such a scandal may surface. An insider said, “the gulf has widened since then.”

RSS stepped in to resolve Maharashtra political crisis

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

RSS stepped in to resolve Maharashtra political crisis

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 6

The RSS has finally stepped in to resolve the political crisis engulfing the state for the past ten days. If sources in the Sangh Parivar are to be believed, the RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat may speak to Sena Chief Uddhav Thacheray in order to resolve the stand-off between the two parties.

The process of RSS intervention began with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis touching base with Road Transport & MSMEs minister Nitin Gadkari two days ago. Both the leaders gave no clue as to what transpired between them. But it is presumed that Fadnavis wanted Gadkari to intervene in the political crisis as he has good relations with Sena leadership too.

It was following this meeting that Fadnavis went to Nagpur to meet the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to apprise him of the developing political situation.It may be informed that the BJP-Sena seat sharing deal was clinched before the May Lok Sabha polls with efforts of Mohan Bhagwat. The BJP conceded as many as 23 Lok Sabha seats to Sena and climbed down a bit.

These sources say that Mohan Bhagwat is extremely busy with the Ram Temple issue as the Supreme Court judgment is expected anytime between November 11-13. Shiv Sena has been part of the long struggle for the Ram Temple movement and integral part of the Parivar.

Therefore, the RSS chief is may make an effort to resolve the crisis and also impress on the BJP to be magnanimous in any power sharing arrangement. He wants political tempers to cool down as big Ram Temple issue will come up next week.

The Sena's position also has become somewhat may awkward after NCP Chief Sharad Pawar had withdrawn from the BJP-Sena infighting saying the NCP-Congress have the mandate to sit in the Opposition.

The change in tune came after Congress president Sonia Gandhi stood firm in telling Sharad Pawar that her party would find it difficult to support Sena led government from inside or outside. In view of these developments, the prospects of resolution of crisis may be on the radar.

Ends 

Shah faces Sangh Parivar heat

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Exclusive Report 

"Nobody contacted me… I am happy in my ministries," BJP leader tells Lokmat Times

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov. 12 :

Notwithstanding the assertions made by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh that Amit Shah will continue for next two terms as the BJP president, search has begun to select a new party chief in December-January itself. 

Highly placed sources in the RSS, the mother organization of the BJP, has signaled that "course correction" is the need of the hour as no lessons were learnt by the BJP leadership under Amit Shah after the humiliating defeat in January this year during the Delhi Assembly polls. 

Before leaving Delhi, the RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat, reportedly gave a dressing down to Amit Shah for his failure in Bihar for the party's worst-defeat and for creating an opportunity to unify the Opposition parties against the BJP.

Though Rajnath Singh who held a long meeting with Mohan Bhagwat a day earlier, denied that he was in the reckoning for the party post, sources close to him say that he frankly told the RSS chief that he wants to return to the party. Rajnath Singh may have asserted that Shah will be re-elected for full three year term in Dec-Jan. But none in the Sangh Parivar is willing for his continuance. It would be pertinent to mention that Rajnath Singh was the party president in May, 2014 when it won 282 Lok Sabha seats. 

He wanted to continue as BJP chief. But the Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted that he be brought in as Home Minister and Amit Shah be rewarded for winning 73 Lok Sabha seats in UP. The RSS buckled and agreed for Shah whose gamble paid off in Maharashtra, Jharkhand & Haryana. But in all these states, the Opposition parties were a divided lot and the BJP benefited.

After the Delhi & Bihar debacle, the RSS doesn't want to take chances as NDA has already ruled for 18 months and trust of the workers and voters has to be regained. 

These sources say Surface Transport & Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari tops the list of probables for the next BJP president's post. Gadkari was party president in 2012 when he had to quit mid-way in an unsavory manner when media reported an Income-Tax raids on his Purti group of companies. Rajnath Singh was brought in as an interim president. Later, it turned out that there were no raids on Gadkari's companies. But the damage had been done. The Sangh Parivar also feels that Prime Minister and party president should not belong to the same state and it had made an exception at the explicit request of BJP leadership after the government was formed. Now a change of guard is the need of the hour and a more pleasant, acceptable and accommodative leader is required who can take the workers along.

Therefore, Gadkari fits into this scenario prevailing within the BJP and the Sangh Parivar. But he stoutly denies he is either in the reckoning or keen to become the party president. When Lokmat Times contacted him over the phone, he said, "Nobody has contacted me and nor I am interested..(to become the party president). I am very happy with what I am doing in my ministries…. focused on building highways and infrastructure development."

However, sources in the Parivar say that there is none in the party who can infuse confidence. Health Minister J P Nadda could have been stop gap arrangement in 2014. But certainly not in 2017 when the General Elections won't be very far away.

RSS red flags dissent against Modi

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

• Reins frontal organizations
• Plans for RSS-BJP meet deferred

Exclusive

New Delhi, May 19, 2015

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is understood to have conveyed to the BJP’s Central leadership that none of its senior functionaries including Chief Mohan Bhagwat would travel to Delhi for an interaction for some time.

The RSS leadership has conveyed that the entire machinery is extremely busy in training camps of its cadre across the country for the next two months. Except for two senior RSS functionaries, Krishan Gopal and Suresh Soni who are permanently camping in Delhi’s Jhandewalan office, no other functionary would travel for RSS-BJP meet.

The RSS has also conveyed to the BJP leadership that it had already reined in some of its hawkish elements on the “Ghar Wapsi” and other issues. It has also firmly told some of the frontal organizations including Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh and Swadeshi Jagran Manch that the issues raised by them would be adequately addressed. But there should not be any public criticism of the Modi government on such matters. Even the VHP has been told that the moratorium on the Ram Temple issue had been given to the Modi government in national interest.

Highly placed sources in the RSS told Lokmat today that Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and others who have been dissatisfied with the style of functioning of the party and the government, were politely told to “wait”. Gadkari even went to extent of going public saying that there was “conspiracy” against him when CAG reported tabled in Parliament mentioned him by name which has never been the practice before. Yet, the RSS leaders are unwilling to bell the cat at this juncture.

Obviously, the RSS leadership doesn’t want to do anything which can even be seen to be weakening the Modi government in any respect. The RSS leadership has publicly and privately has been highly appreciate of work done by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the last one year. “He is the first Hindu ruler after Chandragupt Maurya to rule the country and nothing should even remotely be done to weaken the government. If there are some grey areas the same will be resolved,” said a senior RSS leader.

No doubt, the RSS itself is somewhat disillusioned with the functioning of BJP president Amit Shah. But the parent organization also realizes that it would not be possible to change the party leadership before the Bihar elections. Secondly, issues of concerns will be discussed and resolved.

The RSS leadership is also keen that none of the top ministers including Rajnath Singh should think in terms of quitting the government as it will not send the right signals. RSS joint general secretary, Dattatreya Hosabale went public in Nagpur yesterday when he warned affiliate organisations not to obstruct the Narendra Modi-led government's push on economic reforms.

The RSS had sent points of concerns to all important ministries in confidence and wants action be taken. Of the  72-point list sent to central ministries, 30 are considered for immediate action. The RSS, it seems, has sent a conciliatory note when it said that the government was on the right track and its efforts must be complemented with responsive cooperation rather than selective confrontation.

Therefore, there is a clear indication that despite dissatisfaction by some of the ministers, the RSS is broadly in agreement with the functioning of the government so far.

Rajnath wants to quit as HM

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

All is not well in Sangh Parivar

Special Report

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, May 17 :

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is understood to have expressed his desire to quit the government and serve the party organization. Rajnath Singh who is number two in the Modi government, has reportedly conveyed to the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to permit him to be relieved from government duties and be sent back to the party. 

He reminded the RSS chief that it was on his directions in May 2014 that he had quit as BJP chief and joined the government. However, he finds himself somewhat at odds to continue further in the government.  It is not known what exactly transpired between Rajnath Singh and Mohan Bhagwat when they met on Thursday last. 

But authoritative sources close to Rajnath Singh say that he has couple of grievances. Rajnath was deeply hurt last year when allegations against his son Pankaj Singh surfaced in the media and the government opted to remain silent What pained him most was drastic cut in the Budget of his ministry dealing with police modernisation and sending L C Goyal as home secretary without even consulting him. Rajnath was only informed about it. L C Goyal is considered close to National Security Adviser Ajit Doval as both belong to Kerala cadre of all India services. Even the Intelligence Bureau though technically under the Union Home Ministry, doesn't listen to MHA. Rajnath Singh may be a member of the Cabinet Committee of Appointments (ACC), he is hardly consulted on key appointments.

Rajnath Singh is understood to have also reminded Mohan Bhagwat that he didn't want to go to the government in the fist place. But it was on the directions of the RSS that he moved over to the government. Now he be allowed to go back to the party, Rajnath Singh reportedly pleaded.

The exercise has begun within the party apparatus as complaints have grown against Amit Shah's style of functioning and defeat in Delhi Assembly polls brought his graph down too. The RSS leadership comprising Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Dattatreya Honsbole and Krishan Gopal had held detailed consultations on March 23 at the residence of Nitin Gadkari in Delhi where party matters were discussed. It was felt that someone else may be needed who can carry the party workers. Some of the frontal organizations of the RSS like the Swadesh Jagran Manch, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh and Kisan Sangh have been publicly criticizing the Modi government on Land Bill and other crucial issues.

Surface Transport & Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari has been also extremely unhappy and doesn't mince words in criticizing the government and the party. Gadkari was in the news last year when reports of spy bug being found at his residence surfaced in the media. He had also been unhappy the way finance ministry allowed the CAG report to be tabled in Parliament relating to the Purti group.