Suggestions From The RSS
- Lok Sabha polls in 2014 is a battle of perceptions
- Rhetoric must be replaced by humility
- Theatrics must be replaced by facts and logic
- BJP leaders must avoid appearing shallow and arrogant
- BJP leaders must appear humble and down to earth
- No personal attacks on Congress leaders and the Gandhis
- Party state units and leaders must be given more and adequate role
- Cadre should remain involved
***
Ten days after the BJP registered a runaway success in the assembly polls, forming government in three out of five states, five core group members of its ideological fountainhead, the Rashtraiya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) were back to the drawing board. As the backroom strategists, headed by RSS chief Mohanrao Bhagwat met in Keshav Kunj in Delhi’s Jhandewala area over two days on December 17th and 18th , it wasn’t only to analyse BJP’s performance in the just finished assembly elections. But more importantly to gauge and assess the effect of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on the national electorate and prepare an inventory of "what needs to be done for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls."
The mood, sources confirm, was "largely upbeat in the RSS headquarters." Especially since the RSS believes that it has now managed to convince the BJP of its own utility in electoral politics. "The amount of work that the RSS cadre did in states like Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh from the beginning of the campaign to voting day has made the BJP realise that it needs to involve the Sangh directly in the 2014 elections," a senior RSS leader said. Adding, "after all voter turnout is what we can easily claim credit for." But excitement over the December kill is certainly not enough to easily ignore "larger issues that the Sangh leadership has been discussing for a while now."
Method, therefore, more than the message is top on the minds of the RSS leadership. The Sangh, a senior pracharak confirmed is of the firm view that "the 2014 polls will be a battle of perceptions. BJP leaders can’t appear to be arrogant. That’s for the Congress leaders to do. BJP leaders must look humble and down to earth." As BJP led by Modi fights to capture the imagination of a floating, aspirational voter who gave the Congress-led UPA a decade in power, it will not be enough to position itself as just an option to the Congress. The BJP will have to position itself as the only option available to an electorate weighed down by inflation and tired of UPA’s alleged corruption. It is with this in mind that the Sangh now wants "rhetoric in campaigns to be replaced by humility. Theatrics at public rallies to be replaced by facts and logic." The message from the Sangh is simple: What works in Gujarat may not necessarily work in the rest of the country. India is a much larger canvas.
Therefore, Sangh’s missive to Modi, insiders confirm, has a few simple suggestions: "Stop all personal attacks on Congress leaders which includes the use of words like shehzada for Rahul Gandhi. Not sound petty when referring to other political leaders even from the Congress. At all costs avoid appearing shallow and arrogant and adopt the image of a more inclusive national leader." For the RSS, a flawless presentation of Modi stems from a more selfish need to redeem itself in the public eye. A senior leader emphasised, "Modi is no longer a Gujarat leader. He is BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and more than that a PM candidate who has the backing of the RSS. In many ways then he becomes a nominee of the RSS. If he looks bad in public so will the RSS."
Not just that, the RSS has also suggested some course-correction for Narendra Modi vis-à-vis his style of functioning. Worried over the mounting complaints against Modi from BJP state units, state leaders and functionaries about "being marginalised" the RSS has directed Modi to ensure that the "party hierarchy and framework are kept intact." In muted tones, BJP leaders confirm that ever since Modi’s elevation, state units have complained about "lack of work" since Modi prefers to work through "parallel networks of a chosen few who are entrusted to run the show for him." Citing the example of Modi’s close-aide Amit Shah manning the show for him in Delhi, a senior pracharak said, "we can’t allow an Amit Shah in every state. The RSS and the BJP are very clearly cadre based parties and have survived because of the cadre. Modi must behave like an organisation man. A cadre member first, then a leader."
Given the added advantage the cadre brought to the BJP’s table and if the 2013 outcome is in any way a precursor to the 2014 results, perhaps it will serve Modi well to listen to an organisation that is largely responsible for moulding his politics and ideology.
This article did not appear in print and is carried here as a web-extra
