After Successful Campaign in Haryana, RSS Shifts Focus to Maharashtra; 75,000 Local Meetings to be Held

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat speaks during Vijayadashami event at RSS' headquarters in Nagpur | Image/ANI

Sources say that RSS workers held more than 16,000 small meetings on the ground in the state of Haryana that actually made the difference.

After a successful campaign in the recent elections in Haryana, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) is all set to work on battleground Maharashtra. Importantly, Nagpur, which falls in Maharashtra, is also the headquarters of the ideological partner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Sources say that RSS workers held more than 16,000 small meetings on the ground in the state of Haryana that actually brought about a change in fortunes for the saffron party in the polls. However, for a big state like Maharashtra, the numbers are only expected to go up. “We can expect at least four times more such meetings in poll-bound Maharashtra. This is a state that the RSS knows as good as anybody else, and they do understand the importance of the BJP-led NDA government coming to power, because it only boosts the ideology that they’ve been fighting for all along,” a source told CNN-News18, adding that close to 75,000 such meetings are likely to be held in Maharashtra.

These are small localised meetings, with just about 20 people. They involve RSS workers having a conversation with the locals, explaining to them the importance of going and casting their vote and how it can help in nation-building.

Over the years, the RSS has been holding such ground connect across the state. However, there have been speculations about some differences cropping up between the BJP and the RSS. “Vyakti se nahi, vyavhar se dukh hota hai (It is not a person but their behaviour which hurts),” an RSS leader said, hinting at differences between the BJP and RSS.

Sources said the RSS was not seen making such an aggressive push in the recent Lok Sabha polls. “Normally, the RSS workers do a door-to-door campaign, connect with locals one-on-one and ensure their participation in the process of voting, often, even encouraging voters to come out and cast their ballot, irrespective of whichever side they chose. This went missing in the Lok Sabha polls for obvious reasons, but the same strategy is now back,” another source added.

While the RSS does not directly involve itself in electoral politics, its workers try to shape public opinion in many ways by trying to establish dialogue with the electorate. The topics that the RSS and its affiliates discuss on the ground range from the need for polling to become effective in a vibrant democracy like India, the impact of good governance and the law and order situation across the state. They effectively also shape public opinion around the role of women and the youth in India’s politics. They also talk about the commitment of the BJP-led central government that has fulfilled promises including the abrogation of Article 370, building of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and commitment to the youth by shaping up the New Education Policy.

There have also been doubts on whether the RSS would still like to give its go-ahead to the BJP’s alliance with the likes of Ajit Pawar’s NCP even though the other alliance partner, Shinde Shiv Sena is ideologically on the same page. “Political decisions are taken keeping the dynamics of the state in mind. The BJP is in the best position to take these political decisions. However, anybody who wants to incline towards nation-building and a resilient India should be welcome,” a source added. “The BJP, being in power, in a big state like Maharashtra, will help pursue the ideological commitment further. The RSS also realises that a strong BJP will mean a strong nation, therefore, there’s an all-hands-on-deck approach,” a source said.

Maharashtra will go to polls in one phase on November 20. On Sunday, the BJP announced its first list of 99 candidates and the first name on the list was that of Devendra Fadnavis, who will continue to fight from his bastion, Nagpur. Committed to the ideology of the RSS, Fadnavis has had strong backing from them, despite all speculation about him possibly looking at a bigger role in Delhi.

Maharashtra is an interesting state where six major political parties are in the electoral fray. While the BJP-Shinde Shiv Sena-NCP Ajit Pawar faction are on one side, on the other side is the Congress-NCP (SP)- Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance.