NEW DELHI: BJP on Thursday effected major organisational changes, virtually doing away with the influential position of joint general secretaries with V Satish appointed as coordinator, a new post to oversee the parliamentary party and Dalit outreach.
The changes that affect functionaries, seen to be RSS deputees, can be seen as diminution of the Sangh role but Satish has been given significant responsibility. The role of overseeing the parliamentary party is viewed as an important assignment for the low-profile functionary and is seen as a streamlining exercise. He will coordinate with the parliamentary party, SC Morcha and BJP's Dalit outreach campaigns.
Joint general secretary Saudan Singh was elevated as national vice-president. He will be based in Chandigarh and look after party affairs in Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh and Himachal. These are key states for BJP which also represent political challenges. Shiv Prakash, another joint general secretary, will retain the post but his role has been expanded. He will be based in Bhopal and look after MP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra, Telangana and Bengal.
While the changes can be seen as the BJP brass asserting its position in its arrangements with RSS, sources said PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah have been careful about keeping RSS in the loop.