In a significant organizational change, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Sunday appointed its joint general secretary Arun Kumar as the coordinator of the Sangh for political issues, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He replaces another joint general secretary, Krishan Gopal, who was holding the responsibility since 2015. Gopal had succeeded Suresh Soni, who held coordination for nearly a decade after the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
Let us inform you that at present an important meeting of the Sangh is going on in Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh. Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, Dattatreya Hosabole, and many senior officials are present in this. It is believed that in this meeting, there can be a discussion on what role the Sangh can play in maintaining the Yogi Adityanath government in UP.
This reshuffle of the Sangh is considered important due to the assembly elections to be held next year. This election is very important for BJP. The BJP, which has suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, despite vigorous campaigning and rhetoric in West Bengal, will not want to lose power in UP, which plays the most important role in the country's politics. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh also understands very well how important it is to maintain the government in UP.
Soni is seen as an effective coordinator. He was instrumental in getting Narendra Modi declared as the prime ministerial candidate by the BJP during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
In the ongoing meeting of full-time RSS workers in Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh, an organizational change was announced to make Arun Kumar the coordinator.
When contacted, RSS Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar confirmed this and said that Arun Kumar will be the Sangh's coordinator for political issues including BJP. He said that this is a regular process and the Sangh keeps on changing the responsibilities of its workers.
Earlier this year, the RSS revamped its organizational structure by promoting Dattatreya Hosabole as general secretary and Ramdutt Chakradhar as joint general secretary along with Arun Kumar.