Pick credible and effective team, RSS advises BJP

In the wake of criticism and the growing impression that the BJP is being run by the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo and the party’s central team lacks “credible” faces, the RSS asked the saffron party to ensure the new BJP president’s team should have “credible” and “effective” leaders. The RSS, it is learnt, feels that the criticism and the allegation that decision-making in the BJP has been concentrated in the Modi-Shah duo could create problems for the party, given that key states are going to the polls.

While Mr Amit Shah is likely to get his first full term as BJP president, the RSS has advised its affiliate that the party president’s new team should be seen as a step to strengthening the central organisation. Mr Shah is currently completing former party chief Rajnath Singh’s term, after he was inducted in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet in the middle of 2014.

It may be recalled that in a strongly-worded letter after the party’s Bihar election debacle, BJP veterans including L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Shanta Kumar and Yashwant Sinha had attacked the party leadership for destroying the “consensual character” of the party and alleged that BJP leaders were now “forced to kowtow to a handful”.

Speculation is rife that RSS loyalist and BJP general secretary (organisation) Ramlal could be replaced. The names of V. Satish, Shivprakash and B.L. Santosh are doing the rounds as his replacement in the incoming BJP president’s team.

With key non-NDA-ruled states like West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh set to go to the polls soon, the new team may see larger representation from these states. But the RSS’s advice is that the new team should also send out a message that the leadership has taken a concerted step in strengthening the organisation and not favouritism.

The RSS also feels that instead of Union ministers being asked to brief the media on various issues, unless it directly concerns their respective ministry, the BJP should have “heavyweight” and “proficient” leaders in the central party team.