By Tridib Raman
BJP and RSS are at odds over the appointment of the new BJP President. Following the 2024 election results, BJP, which found itself somewhat on the back foot, is now offering RSS a significant political playing field. Since the rise of the Modi era in saffron politics, BJP had been unable to grant RSS its desired influence in major strategic decisions. Most major decisions were previously made through private discussions between the two top leaders of the party. However, this time, the scenario appears different, and BJP isn’t hesitating to consider the name of Sunil Bansal, who is favoured by the Sangh. But the party has conveyed to the RSS that while Bansal is a skilled organiser, capable of taking everyone along, and has performed well in states where he was given electoral responsibility, making him the party president would likely be unacceptable to Yogi Adityanath. Moreover, Bansal comes from the Vaishya community, and the BJP already has a reputation for being a party dominated by businessmen (Baniyas). After this, BJP’s leadership proposed the name of Union Minister C.R. Patil to the RSS for the president’s post, but the RSS rejected it, saying, “Both Modi and Shah are from Gujarat, so if the BJP president is also from Gujarat, what message will it send to the party cadre?” RSS then suggested Vinod Tawde’s name, anticipating the upcoming Maharashtra elections. However, Tawde was considered too close to Nitin Gadkari, and BJP’s top brass shelved his candidacy as well. Other names like Vasundhara Raje, Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Sanjay Vinayak Joshi were also floated, but none were seriously considered. Bhupendra Yadav’s name, a consistent favourite, was also put forward, but RSS believes that “even though Yadav is close to Amit Shah, he is too junior for the role of party president.” At the moment, it seems that Devendra Fadnavis is the most likely candidate for the position. Sources indicate that Fadnavis was recently allocated an official residence by the central government in Delhi’s Lutyens zone, which adds weight to the speculation that he is currently the strongest contender for the BJP presidency.
Is RSS Softening Its Stance on Rahul Gandhi?
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has consistently criticised RSS’s policies and programs, often launching direct attacks on the organisation. Despite this, recent developments suggest that the top leadership of RSS seems to be softening its stance toward him. Has RSS sensed the changing political winds in the country, or has it been swayed by Rahul’s recent “Soft Hindutva” approach? During Rahul Gandhi’s recent tour of the United States, the overwhelming reception from the Indian diaspora could be influencing RSS’s shift in attitude. A reliable source within RSS claims that the organisation, being a cultural entity, harbours no personal animosity toward any political party. This same source hints that in the coming days, the top leadership of RSS may actively seek to establish direct connections with Rahul Gandhi. Reportedly, the responsibility for this “Mission Rahul” has been handed to Krishna Gopal, a respected scholar and thinker.
Brawl in Bihar Congress
By Tridib Raman
Bihar Congress is in turmoil as state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh faces fierce opposition from his own party members. The central leadership seems to have adopted a “wait-and-watch” attitude, as the saying goes: “The goat’s mother can’t be safe forever.” Recently, Akhilesh sent a proposal to Delhi for appointing five new district presidents, but Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge sidelined the proposal due to a flood of complaints from Bihar Congress leaders and workers against Akhilesh. The latest controversy occurred about two weeks ago during the celebration of former Bihar Congress Chief Minister Daroga Prasad Rai’s birth anniversary in Patna, which saw a large gathering of Congress members. At one point, three Congress leaders — Kamaldev Narayan Shukla, Arun Pathak, and Ajay Pratap — were discussing organisational matters when Akhilesh Prasad happened to pass by. Misunderstanding their conversation, Akhilesh thought they were criticising him behind his back. He lost his temper and confronted them, saying, “You act like big leaders, planting stories against me in the media…” The argument escalated to verbal abuse and even physical confrontation, which was only stopped by the intervention of others present at the event. The three leaders later filed a written complaint against Akhilesh at Patna’s Patliputra Police Station and also appealed to the party high command in Delhi for justice. However, Kamaldev Narayan Shukla was expelled from the party’s primary membership for six years by the Disciplinary Committee of the State Congress Committee. A show-cause notice was also issued to Arun Pathak, giving him a week’s time to respond, with the warning that failure to provide a satisfactory answer would lead to his suspension from the party’s primary membership for six years as well.
Can the Rebels Spoil the Game?
By Tridib Raman
In the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections, both BJP and Congress are grappling with internal rebellion. In Congress, around 56 leaders have sounded the bugle of dissent, with approximately 42 of them contesting as independents across 34 different seats. BJP faces a similar predicament, with about 78 of its leaders raising a rebellion, potentially disrupting the party’s chances on nearly 49 seats. Among these, 47 will contest the polls as independent candidates. One of the most significant defections came from Ram Bilas Sharma, one of Haryana BJP’s senior-most leaders, who decided to contest as an independent after being denied a party ticket. Sharma was said to be most angry with Manohar Lal Khattar. Sharma eventually withdrew his nomination after being personally persuaded by top leadership from Delhi. Congress has entrusted Bhupinder Singh Hooda with the delicate task of calming its rebels. Hooda is meeting each dissenting leader individually, hoping to convince them to stand down. Last Friday, BJP faced another setback when Karan Dev Kamboj, the state president of its OBC Morcha, defected to Congress. His dissatisfaction with BJP leadership was so pronounced that he refused to even shake hands with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. On the Congress side, Pradeep Narwal, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, has been fielded from the Bawani Khera seat in Bhiwani. Narwal’s nomination triggered a rebellion from three-time MLA Ramkishan Fauji and Satveer Ratera, both of whom have decided to run as independents. Originally from Sonipat, Narwal is currently serving as a co-incharge of Congress in Uttar Pradesh. Due to opposition from local party workers in Haryana, he has had to bring in his team from UP to assist him in the campaign. The entry of these rebels has complicated matters for Congress, but it may benefit BJP’s candidate Kapoor Valmiki in the Bawani Khera seat, as the divided vote might work in his favour.
Is Engineer Crafting BJP’s Game Plan?
In the scenic valleys of Kashmir, the political atmosphere is heating up as election colours start to brighten. While PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti remains somewhat inactive due to health issues, her daughter Iltija is making her presence felt, drawing large crowds wherever she goes. Similarly, Baramulla MP Rashid Engineer is emerging as a beacon of hope for many young people. Even from behind bars, he managed to defeat a heavyweight like Omar Abdullah in the 2024 elections. However, it seems the central government had a particular motive for granting his release from jail. Since his release on bail, Rashid Engineer’s political momentum appears to have slowed. His first rally at Baramulla’s ‘Delina Ground’ was underwhelming, despite his fiery rhetoric against Modi’s policies. Yet, many locals are starting to believe that he is indirectly aiding BJP’s cause. While Engineer’s Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party is primarily limited to the Baramulla region, he has fielded around 35 candidates in the upcoming assembly elections. This has sparked rumours that his role is more of a “vote-splitter,” aiming to dilute anti-BJP votes. BJP, meanwhile, is running the Kashmir elections with a focus on independent candidates. Several smaller pro-BJP parties, such as those led by Ramdas Athawale, Jayant Chaudhary, and Pashupati Paras, have also jumped into the fray. Their presence could potentially syphon off votes from the National Conference and Congress, indirectly benefiting BJP in the region. This intricate strategy of local alliances and vote-splitting raises the question: is Engineer, knowingly or unknowingly, helping shape BJP’s electoral game plan in Kashmir?
BJP’s Game Plan Around Kejriwal
Is it merely a coincidence that the decision on AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s bail plea was reserved precisely on September 5, and he was granted bail only after the last date for filing nominations for the Haryana Assembly elections, which was September 12? And then, just a day after that deadline, on September 13, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal bail with some sharp remarks directed at the investigating agencies. A Congress leader claims that the delay in Kejriwal’s release was deliberate, to prevent an electoral alliance between AAP and Congress in the Haryana Assembly elections — a strategy that seems to have benefited the BJP. Moreover, the conditions under which Kejriwal has been granted bail are such that he is virtually restricted: he cannot go to his office, cannot sign any official documents, and cannot comment on his case. Essentially, he is like a warrior on the battlefield with both hands tied. It’s worth noting that this time around, the BJP seems to be fighting the entire Haryana election on borrowed support. The real concern for the BJP is that, after almost 10 years, Dalit and Jat voters are openly rallying behind Congress in these Assembly elections. To counter this, the saffron party has activated its so-called “B-team” — Mayawati’s BSP. In the 2024 elections in Uttar Pradesh, BSP managed to syphon off votes, securing around 16 seats for the BJP. The BSP is in alliance with the larger Chautala faction, while Chandrashekhar Azad’s outfit has aligned with Dushyant Chautala’s JJP. The main aim of the JJP is to break the Jat voter base away from Congress, indirectly benefiting the BJP. And then, of course, there’s Kejriwal, whose presence serves to weaken Congress from within!
Will Surjewala Be Shown the Door?
After the Haryana elections, a major reshuffle within the Congress organisation seems likely. Sources suggest that a key leader of the Haryana Congress, Randeep Surjewala, may lose his position as the party’s General Secretary. If this happens, he could also be relieved of his responsibilities in Karnataka. It is said that Surjewala, along with another prominent female leader from the state, has tried to create obstacles for Congress’s Chief Ministerial candidate, Bhupinder Hooda. This has reportedly not gone down well with Rahul Gandhi.
