top of page

By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 4:59:11 pm

Bhagwat to outline roadmap for next century

Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat will address thousands of volunteers and key political observers at Reshimbagh grounds in Nagpur tomorrow at 7.40 am on the occasion of Vijayadashami, formally concluding the organisation’s centenary-year celebrations. He is expected to deliver an ideological and operational blueprint intended to recalibrate Hindu society, counter ongoing opposition mobilisation across India, and outline internal organisational changes...

Bhagwat to outline roadmap for next century

Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat will address thousands of volunteers and key political observers at Reshimbagh grounds in Nagpur tomorrow at 7.40 am on the occasion of Vijayadashami, formally concluding the organisation’s centenary-year celebrations. He is expected to deliver an ideological and operational blueprint intended to recalibrate Hindu society, counter ongoing opposition mobilisation across India, and outline internal organisational changes through a wide-ranging policy address. The annual Vijayadashami address, historically the most definitive forum for the RSS chief to articulate the organisation’s stance on domestic policy, cultural objectives and global affairs, carries heightened significance this year. Marking the completion of 100 years since Dr K.B. Hedgewar founded the organisation on Vijayadashami in 1925, Bhagwat’s address is designed to chart the strategic framework for the RSS as it enters its second century. Over the past 12 months, Bhagwat has personally anchored a series of outreach programmes across four Indian metropolitan hubs and two global nerve centres in the United States and Europe, signalling an appetite to project ideological clarity and broaden the organisation’s institutional footprint beyond traditional shakhas. The address comes against the backdrop of sustained street agitations orchestrated by the Congress party and newly formed groups such as the CJP in the national capital and several states. These demonstrations, centred on unemployment, social justice rhetoric and institutional accountability, have explicitly targeted India’s youth demographic — a constituency that has historically formed the primary recruitment pipeline and ideological backbone of the Sangh. Political observers believe Bhagwat will offer an unyielding response to these attempts to disrupt governance and erode the social coalition, reflecting an unmistakable determination within the Sangh Parivar leadership to resist political attrition and mount an active counter-narrative. The diplomatic and constitutional significance of the event is underscored by the deliberate selection of guests. Former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Israel’s Consul General in Mumbai, Yaniv Revach, are attending as special invitees. Revach’s presence hints at possible remarks addressing global geopolitical realignment, the rise of civilisational conflicts, cross-border terrorism and national security challenges. Dhankhar’s attendance provides a platform to reaffirm constitutional patriotism and legislative stability at a juncture marked by sharp parliamentary confrontation. Equally consequential is the invitation extended to Sanjay Gupta, Editor-in-Chief of Dainik Jagran. For an organisation that has historically maintained a measured distance from mainstream media machinery, engaging with the leadership of India’s largest Hindi daily indicates an institutional shift towards proactive public communication. The gesture suggests that the Sangh recognises that narrative warfare in its next century requires strategic engagement with popular media platforms rather than a traditional reliance on insular organisational word of mouth. Beyond external ideological positions, the Nagpur gathering is expected to provide indicators of the structural transitions under way within the RSS. The organisation has been quietly restructuring its administrative echelons, revamping functional wings and adjusting internal deployment models in recent months. With additional leadership realignments slated across key tiers in the near future, Bhagwat’s speech is expected to define the organisational ethos for these generational handovers, emphasising flexibility in outreach while preserving core organisational discipline. As dawn breaks over Reshimbagh, the address will serve both as a balance sheet of a century-old journey and as a declaration of intent for an increasingly combative political era.

Unkept promises major reason behind defections from BJP

Writer: Anoop Raghav
Anoop Raghav
Oct 23, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Aug 18

defections from BJP

Mumbai: The recent wave of defections from the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance to the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has far-reaching implications for the forthcoming Maharashtra elections. Leaders from diverse regions, like Rajendra Shingne and Harshvardhan Patil, have switched allegiances, citing dissatisfaction with how they were treated within the alliance and frustration over unfulfilled promises. This defection trend exposes deeper fault lines within the Mahayuti and poses significant challenges to its prospects in the upcoming elections.


One of the primary reasons for these defections is the sidelining of veteran leaders who feel their contributions have been underappreciated. Shingne’s move to Sharad Pawar’s camp, after being denied a cabinet position in Ajit Pawar’s faction, highlights the growing disillusionment among Mahayuti’s second-tier leadership. Similarly, Ganesh Naik, a senior BJP legislator from Navi Mumbai, is reportedly negotiating his exit from the party due to unmet electoral demands for his son. Such discontent reflects the BJP’s struggle to manage its coalition partners and accommodate key regional players within its political framework.


Another important factor driving these defections is regionalism. In Maharashtra, issues like the Maratha reservation and agrarian distress are deeply political, and the BJP has struggled to address these concerns in a manner that satisfies both the urban and rural constituencies. Leaders like Harshvardhan Patil, whose political career is rooted in the sugar lobby and rural farming communities, have expressed frustration with the Mahayuti’s handling of agricultural issues. His decision to rejoin Sharad Pawar is emblematic of a broader trend where leaders from agrarian regions feel that the BJP-led government’s policies favor urban interests over rural development.


The rising influence of Sharad Pawar and the MVA, fueled by their strong showing in the recent Lok Sabha elections, has also contributed to this exodus. Pawar’s stature as a seasoned political leader and his party’s ability to resonate with farmers and rural communities make him an attractive alternative. The NCP (SP) under Pawar has successfully positioned itself as a champion of regional and rural interests, offering disgruntled Mahayuti leaders a platform to pursue their political ambitions.


As a result, these defections are likely to weaken the BJP-led alliance’s prospects in the forthcoming elections. The departure of key figures from critical constituencies, such as Sindhkhed Raja and Indapur, weakens Mahayuti’s regional hold, especially in rural strongholds where the MVA is gaining ground. The challenge for the BJP will be to maintain internal cohesion and prevent further erosion of its political base as leaders seek more favorable opportunities elsewhere.


Sandeep Naik latest to quit

In a setback to the BJP in Navi Mumbai ahead of the November 20 state assembly elections, the party’s leader and former MLA Sandeep Naik on Tuesday joined the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).


He is likely to contest the assembly election from the Belapur seat, where the BJP has re-nominated its sitting MLA Manda Mhatre, sources said.


Notably, Sandeep’s father and former minister Ganesh Naik, who wielded a major influence in Navi Mumbai region over the years, has been re-nominated by the BJP from the Airoli assembly constituency.

Sandeep Naik was welcomed into the NCP (SP) fold by the party’s state unit president Jayant Patil.

According to sources, Sandeep Naik was unhappy over the denial of a poll ticket by the BJP.


“What we have lost is now found. The story that begins in Navi Mumbai will resonate across Maharashtra. We will not overlook the contributions of our most dedicated activists and leaders. Sandeep Naik’s entry will undoubtedly strengthen our party,” Patil said on the occasion.


He urged the audience to rally behind Naik in the upcoming elections.


Patil also targeted the state government over the rising inflation, unemployment, and the deterioration of law and order.

Comments

bottom of page