What should have been a smooth election process in a disciplined party the fight for power between the BJP and the RSS has shown the real state of affairs to the embarrassment of both. Former BJP Rajnath Singh was chosen as a compromise candidate to succeed Gadkari.

While the internal quarrels and the differences between the BJP and the RSS have come to the fore now, the challenges are stupendous. The first test in 2013 was the choice of the BJP chief and here the party has failed totally by projecting a confusing picture till the last minute. The outcome has not been a credit to a party, which has been boasting of a party with a difference. The president’s elections have exposed the chinks in the armor and also the extent of factionalism in the party, which is hoping to grab power in the 2014 elections. If the RSS thought that it could impose Gadkari for a second term, it was mistaken as the BJP leaders led by Advani revolted. The RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had to give in after the raids in Purli group of companies on the day before the nomination of the Gadkari as the president for a second term. So what should have been the triumph of the RSS has turned out to be its declining influence on the BJP when it accepted Rajnath as the second best choice. The BJP and the RSS know that stakes are high in UP and selection of Rajnath sends a signal that the party is catering to its upper caste constituency. Rajnath had been the UP chief minister and also the BJP chief earlier.

There is also confusion in the minds of the BJP workers and the public about the relationship between the RSS and the BJP. Gone are the days of the RSS chief Sudarshan to Prime Minister Vajpayee to stop the induction of Jaswant Singh and Pramod Mahajan as ministers in 1998. Vajpayee brought them in later. The RSS could also order Advani to step down after the 2005 Chennai national executive after the Jinnah controversy. The two are now struggling to find a balance of power. While the BJP leaders may have had their say in not allowing Gadkari to get a second term, the RSS too had its way by projecting Rajnath Singh, who is the next choice of the Sangh. IN fact, Rajnath narrowly lost the chance to continue last time when the tie was between him and Gadkari.

The first electoral test will come when the elections to three Northeastern states - Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura - go to the polls. The party had concentrated in the region and even the RSS had stepped up its activities in the North East. The new president has to ensure that the party does well in the region where it is trying to make inroads.

But a bigger test will be in May when Karnataka goes for polls. Stakes are high as the party won the state for the first time in the south and established its government, which was rocked by the Lingayat strongman and former chief minister Yediyurappa. Now he has rebelled and has setup his own outfit recently, he could damage the chances of the BJP. The BJP does not have a tall leader in the state to deal with the Yediyurappa challenge. Had Modi been on the driver’s seat perhaps he could have brought around Yediyurappa.

The next test comes when other important states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Delhi go for polls later in the year. In all these states the fight is between the BJP and the Congress and the BJP is ruling in two big states - Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where the anti incumbency could work. In Jharkhand too the BJP lost the government just a few days ago. Delhi for the BJP is not looking good without any local leader of standing.

The last but not the least comes on the choice of the prime ministerial candidate. While the Congress has already made it clear that Rahul will be its choice, the BJP is yet to make up its mind. The RSS plans got upset with the removal of Gadkari from the scene. While Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is the strong contender, the new BJP President Rajnath Singh is no less hopeful. Compared to Gadkari the BJP found him presentable while Gadkari was treated as an outsider in Delhi politics. Rajnath had staked his claim to be the Leader of Opposition when Advani quit. If the party does well in these nine state elections Rajnath Singh will certainly take credit and put forward his claim. Moreover, the JD(U) is opposed to Modi whereas Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has already welcomed the choice of Rajnath Singh.

Rajnath Singh will now have a second stint for the next three years. As the party chief he will have huge responsibilities in keeping the party united and also enthused. He will also have to tread carefully while reconstituting his new team and take all sections along instead of behaving like a factional leader. The party also has to decide whether to go with the hawks or the doves in the party in choosing the way forward. (IPA Service)