Top RSS sources maintain that in the night of April 19 after the end of the first phase of polling, Modi met some of the senior leaders and requested them to prevail upon the swayamsevaks not to harden their stand, not to keep aloof from the election and come out openly to ensure victory of the BJP candidates. Besides a large band of activists and cadres, RSS has at least one lakh high-ranking dedicated swayamsevaks. For years, they have been managing votes at the booth levels, the crucial site in the electoral battle.

So far, except of course the Lok Sabha election of 2004 in which the RSS cadres had maintained a reclusive posture and did not whole heartedly support Atal Behari Vajpayee-led BJP at the directive of the RSS leadership, the RSS swayamsevaks have handed victories to the BJP in several elections. The most fortunate leader to get the unstinted support of the RSS in 2014 and 2019 has been Narendra Modi. RSS handpicked him from Gujarat and pushed him into the national political limelight, eventually crowning him as the prime minister.

But the RSS leadership and its swayamsevaks are no more inclined to sweat it out for Modi. A senior RSS leader confided that Modi has of course met them, but he has always preferred to maintain distance from the Nagpur headquarter. While RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has been extending full support to Modi, but the prime minister on his part has always given the impression that his was a larger-than-life image. Bhagwat maintains that while Modi must maintain the dignity of the office he holds, he however must not show his contempt towards the organisation which has elevated him to the highest constitutionally-permitted position.

Disgusted with his style of functioning and nursing a strong perception that BJP could lose the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the RSS has its centenary celebration scheduled in 2025 on hold for the time being. Hundred years of existence and functioning would be deemed the greatest achievement for any organisation. For RSS, it is certainly the greatest occasion. However, with defeat looming over their heads, the RSS is not sure of the success of the event, or to what extent the impending electoral loss would impact the cadres.

Unfortunately, even after being aware of this predicament, Modi is not willing to bring about any change in his style of functioning. He continues to play his old broken record of Hindu-Muslim animosity and hatred. Uncertain of victory with RSS having tentatively cancelled its centenary programme, undoubtedly an illustrious occasion for the Sangh, Modi has been busy playing up the hyperbole and claiming “Abki bar 400 par”.

Two years back, Dattatreya Hosabale, the number two in the organisation after Bhagwat, had expressed his anguish and frustration at Modi’s haughty style of functioning. Hosabale is the current general secretary of the RSS since March 2021. Though it was expected by RSS leaders that Modi would rectify himself take cues from Hosabale, nothing happened. Modi continued to ignore RSS.

Except Bhagwat, the entire RSS leadership has been feeling alienated and disgusted with Modi. Under the working system of the RSS, it deputes one of its senior leader as the organisational general secretary of the BJP, who liaisons on behalf of RSS and interacts directly with the prime minister. But Modi disbanded this working system and instead entrusted his lieutenant Amit Shah to network with him. This amounted to insulting the RSS leaders and undermining its authority.

If the RSS sources are to be believed, even Bhagwat was feeling let down by Modi’s conduct. But he would not open his mouth or protest his style of functioning. Almost all the top RSS leaders did not approve of Bhagwat’s approach towards him, but in the greater interest of the organisation, they preferred to remain mum. On several occasions, these leaders suggested to Bhagwat to summon him to Nagpur and seek clarification for his demeanour.

The only factor that prevented Bhagwat from acting against Modi has been his accomplishing the mission and agenda of RSS, whether it is abrogation of Article 370, or consecration of Ram Temple. During his ten-year rule, Modi has virtually hijacked all the programmes and agenda of RSS. But this plea is not acceptable to other RSS leaders. They all point out that Bhagwat’s blind faith in Modi was akin to doubting the competence of other leaders. The RSS leaders pointed out that while Bhagwat was present at consecration ceremony on January 22, 2024, but the entire ritual was performed by Modi, broadcast live on every screen across the country, and also garnering worldwide attention. Sharing the views of the Shankaracharyas, the RSS leaders seek to know why Bhagwat wasn’t provided with the opportunity to perform consecration. This, according to them, would have sent a strong message amongst the Hindus across the country and also had helped BJP electorally.

Top RSS sources maintain that the prime reason for the low turnout in the first phase of the voting on April 19, is owing to the RSS volunteers withdrawing from the electoral battle. Though the RSS leaders did not assure him of the outright support, it is said that they do not envisage outright defeat of the BJP. Sources maintain that during the remaining six phases, the RSS cadres and volunteers may join the electoral battle. But not with the firm determination of winning the war.

Yet another factor that has unnerved the Modi-Amit Shah duo is the decision of some RSS leaders to ensure the defeat of the turncoats, those who came from other parties. The RSS leaders nurse the view that the turncoats have completely vitiated the political culture of the RSS. Moreover, these leaders do not think of being answerable to RSS. RSS leaders also complain that the government is not giving them enough importance in policy formulation. They differ from Modi’s approach on Kashmir.

Modi became a full-time worker for the RSS in Gujarat in 1971. The RSS assigned him to the BJP in 1985 and he held several positions within the party hierarchy until 2001, rising to the rank of general secretary. In 2001, Modi was appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat. Quite interestingly, after two years, Hosabale’s observations have started making rounds in the political circles. The initiative has come from some RSS cadres and leaders with the electoral and political situations being far from conducive to Modi and BJP.

The primary concern of the RSS has been the rise of political authoritarianism of Modi. In the past RSS did not allow that space to Atal Behari Vajpayee or L K Advani. RSS kept these leaders under check. But the way Modi has been projecting himself has even threatened the very existence of the RSS, the supreme body of the saffron ecosystem. The character of BJP is undergoing a massive change. It is no more the party with difference. Hindutva crowds now look to Modi for inspiration and as their hero. Nagpur is gradually fading as the symbol of Hindutva. Instead, it has been replaced by Modi’s Delhi residence. It is not Bhagwat but Modi who is the public face of Hindutva. The RSS has never suffered such an erosion of authority in the past. (IPA Service)