Mahajan Jr's shadow may cloud RSS meet

MUMBAI: The unsavoury developments that affect BJP, particularly the one around Mahajan junior, may crop up when the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh meets at Pune, next month. The ‘Prant Pracharaks’ meet to be held in Pune from July 17-20 will be attended by all ‘Pracharaks’ of the organisation on deputation to its different affiliates, including the BJP.

The RSS lends trained manpower to some 47 organisations working in various areas. Officially the RSS maintains that the Pune meet is primarily to discuss programmes for the Golwalkar birth centenary year, but sources indicate that the developments in BJP would be a part of the deliberations. Late MS Golwalkar, who was called Guruji, led the RSS for 33 years, till 1973.

“We will review various programmes being planned as part of the Golwalkar centenary year. The happenings in the BJP are not on the agenda for the Pune conclave,” Ram Madhav, the Sangh spokesperson told ET. He, however, did not deny that the BJP issue may come up for discussion.

According to sources, the meeting is also expected to discuss the organisation’s relationship with the BJP. “The BJPisation of the RSS is an immediate cause of concern,” another RSS functionary said.

As has been the tradition, the RSS lends its senior pracharak to BJP, who act as eyes and ears of the Sangh within the BJP. “He is necessarily an organisation man in the party operating from behind the scene,” he explained. They are appointed as “Saghatan Sachivs” or organisation secretaries in the BJP state units.

But of late, RSS has noted that these secretaries are being influenced by the affiliates. “This is worrying. They are expected to stay away from power politics,” said an RSS official. Mr Madhav said, “There could be a few such cases, but we do not think this issue demands any discussion.”

Also on the agenda will be recent developments in BJP. So far the Sangh has maintained a stoic silence on the events involving the slain BJP general secretary, Pramod Mahajan’s son, Rahul, who was hospitalised for alleged substance abuse, and aide Vivek Maitra, who died allegedly from an overdose of heroin.

“These type of cases do come up for discussion. But the meet like Pune is not the right forum for that,” Mr Madhav said.

The BJPs forthcoming organisational election process, expected to begin in September, would also be taken up at the RSS meet. The Sangh’s views play decisive role in filling important positions of party presidents at the state level. The election process would be over by November.

Only a few days ago the BJP’s executive meet has amended the party constitution to strengthen the position of RSS officials working in the party. Under the ccircumstances, the Sangh is expected to discuss the issue of assigning more swayamsevaks for political work.

The process of identification of `pracharaks’ to be sent to work with the BJP — in addition to those already there — is likely to begin at the Pune meeting. The RSS pointsman in BJP, Sanjay Joshi is expected to submit an informal report to the BJP leadership after the conclave.