RSS coordination meeting: Social harmony, caste dynamics take centre stage

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its associates, including the BJP, held a long and elaborate discussion on social harmony at a time when the Opposition parties have been clamouring for a caste-based census. The discussion was held at the first coordination meeting here after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, caste fault lines took centre stage and impacted BJP's political agenda of Hindutva politics -- the matrix which kept the Hindu electorate united across caste lines.

Samajik Samarasata (social harmony) is one of the Sangh's Panch Parivartan (five-fold transformations) for nationwide transformation.


At the meeting, the issue of social harmony was put forward by the Sangh general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and several Sangh functionaries put forward their views.

Caste mobilisation among SCs and STs, Rajputs in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, and Jats in Haryana were also touched upon. Sangh functionaries from West Bengal and the North eastern states shared the details of the violence in West Bengal.

The BJP, represented by party chief JP Nadda and general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh, shared the details of the party's membership drive and internal elections.

Nadda also met top functionaries of the Sangh including its chief Bhagwat and others on sidelines of the meeting.

This meeting between Sangh functionaries and Nadda is significant in run up to the Lok Sabha polls as the BJP chief had repeatedly said that the party is self sufficient now and does not need the Sangh support.

Thirty two Sangh-associated organisations are participating in the meeting, with national presidents, organisational secretaries, and other national-level office bearers in attendance. A total of 230 representatives from various organisations and 90 national-level Sangh office bearers are taking part in the Baithak. While various RSS national-level meetings have been held in Kerala before, this is the first national Samanvay Baithak to take place in the state.

Unlike typical meetings, this gathering does not feature the presentation of annual reports by affiliate organizations. Instead, the focus is on sharing upcoming programs and plans to enhance coordination among the various organizations under the RSS umbrella.