The three-day national convention of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and various affiliated organisations began on Tuesday at Gandhinagar in Gujarat for an appraisal of the schemes, policies and actions of the Narendra Modi government and crafting the future course of action.
BJP president JP Nadda, RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat and leaders of all RSS affiliates had reached Ahmedabad on Monday for the crucial meeting, which is the top coordination platform between the various organs of the RSS including the BJP.
It is expected that BJP chief Nadda may get inputs from the RSS on possible rejig of the Modi cabinet on the sidelines of the Sangh Parivar's national convention, which has Ram temple fund campaign, Bengal situation and farm protests on its agenda of discussion.
The meet is being attended by nearly 150 top leaders of the 25 Sangh affiliated organisations. Arun Kumar, the RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, said, "The delegates will discuss the nationwide feedback generated on various schemes and policies, provide inputs for future actions and suggest ways for improvement."
CABINET RESHUFFLE ON RSS'S AGENDA
Sources said apart from feedback from the ground in Bengal ahead of the crucial assembly elections in the state and brainstorming over the ongoing farm protests, one of the crucial discussions between top RSS and BJP leaders could be over the much-anticipated expansion and rejig of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's council of ministers. Sangh's say in this matter is likely to be critical.
PM Modi is expected to fill in the vacancy after the demise of LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan. Currently, Railways and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is handling the food and consumer affairs portfolio that Paswan held earlier.
Further, with the Bihar Assembly polls over, PM Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are expected to work on the JDU's participation in the Union cabinet. Bihar's Sushil Modi, who didn't return to the deputy CM's post and Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP in March 2019 are also said to be waiting for a place in the Union cabinet.
Though there is no clarity on when PM Modi may go for the cabinet reshuffle, it is not likely to happen before 08.15 am on January 14, a source said as the month long "kharmas or inauspicious period" ends on that morning. However, a discussion on this issue during the national convention of the Sangh Parivar will include only the top guns of the BJP and the RSS.
FARM STIR AND BENGAL
The "samanvaya" or coordination meet as per practice discusses functioning of the government examining whether the government has followed the roadmaps created in the past and chalks out the plan for the future. Leaders such as BJP president and Bhagwat intervene in the discussions as observers. There are no speeches in these discussions.
Among the key leaders attending the meet, the focus will be on the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (RSS's farmers' wing), the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad during the national convetion.
A senior RSS functionary told India Today that the discussion on Bengal was expected to be critical to the BJP's efforts in the state assembly polls. "The discussion will also include how the BJP and the RSS cadres will work together in the state where the TMC cadres are contesting every inch, and the Left and the Congress are coming together," a senior RSS functionary said.
The RSS will discuss feedback and information generated on the ongoing farmers protests with all its organs. The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) is expected to provide crucial inputs on its outreach to farmers in various states to ensure that the protests do not spread beyond Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh to the rest of India.
Additionally, the RSS-affiliated bodies are expected to share their experiences, outreach and public welfare programmes during the last eight months of pandemic.
RAM TEMPLE OUTREACH
Expansion and outreach programmes of various organs are also likely to be discussed at the national convention of the RSS and its affiliates. Arun Kumar said the discussion agenda would also include volunteering and door-to-door campaigns to collect donations from the people for construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The VHP, which is actively involved in Ram temple plan and construction in Ayodhya, is expected to brief the meet. The mass campaign for Ram temple is part of the RSS plans to build a positive sentiment for the BJP over the next few years during which the party is expected to face tough challenges in UP Assembly polls in 2022 and the Lok Sabha election in 2024.
While work on the foundation for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is likely to start by the end of January, the construction is likely to take 36-39 months. This timeline means that final touches or even the inauguration could take place by the time PM Modi is out to seek a third term in office.
Rivals such as the Shiv Sena have already flagged that the RSS and the BJP are using the fund collection for the Ram temple as a political campaign.
WHAT ELSE IS EXPECTED?
The RSS affiliate Swadeshi Jagram Manch and others such as its labour arm, the BMS are going to provide inputs on economy, plugging the gaps in the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme and labour issues.
Interestingly, BJP president Nadda on Monday after arriving in Ahmedabad held a three-hour long meeting with Gujarat leaders. Sources said the meeting was called to discuss the forthcoming Gujarat local body polls, which are expected to be a litmus test for Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and the BJP.
The polls were scheduled to be held in November but the election was deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation. The polls are likely to take place in February.