In a turn of events following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, senior leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have seemingly taken thinly veiled swipes at the BJP, highlighting underlying tensions within the Sangh Parivar.
The latest remarks, made by senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar at an event in Jaipur, underscore a growing rift between the BJP and its ideological parent, the RSS.
Speaking at the Ramrath Ayodhya Yatra Darshan Poojan Samaroh, Kumar remarked on the electoral outcome without explicitly naming the BJP. He emphasized the concept of 'Ram bhakti' (devotion to Lord Ram), suggesting that a certain political party, interpreted as the BJP, had started with reverence for Ram but succumbed to arrogance.
Kumar noted that despite being the largest party with 241 seats, the BJP fell short of expectations, which he attributed to their hubris.
These comments follow earlier remarks by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who had alluded to the pitfalls of arrogance for a 'true sevak' (servant), which were widely seen as critiques of the BJP's leadership style post-election.
The backdrop to these statements lies in the BJP's electoral performance, where it failed to secure a majority on its own, prompting introspection within the party and criticism from its allies and ideological mentors alike. The relationship between the BJP and the RSS has historically been symbiotic, with the RSS providing ideological guidance and grassroots support to the BJP, particularly during electoral campaigns.
However, fissures became apparent during the recent elections, exacerbated by BJP President J.P. Nadda's comments characterizing the RSS as merely a cultural organization, rather than a decisive political force.
This perceived marginalization of the RSS by the BJP leadership has not gone unnoticed within the Sangh Parivar, leading to public expressions of dissatisfaction from senior RSS figures.