All know popular PM choice: RSS
With the BJP sharply divided over Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s prime ministerial candidature, the RSS is trying hard to evolve a consensus on the issue to make an announcement before the “pitrapaksha” (considered inauspicious period) starts from September 20.
Senior RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya on Saturday maintained that there was nothing special about the Sangh parivar’s “Samanvaya” (coordination) meeting on September 8 and 9. He claimed it is a routine meeting to discuss social and economic conditions prevailing in the country. But speculation is rife that the PM candidate issue will also come up for discussion as Sangh cadre is putting pressure on the RSS top brass to announce Mr Modi’s name at the earliest. Also, election notification is expected by next month and the RSS and a section within the BJP wants that PM candidate announcement should be made before it.
To a question on BJP’s PM candidate, Mr Vaidya said that everyone knows the “popular choice” and the RSS has apprised the BJP top brass of its view on the issue.
Asked whether there will be other discussions besides the political situation, Mr Vaidya said “Elections are nearing. The alternative has to be given by the public and the party is already preparing itself in this regard. Thus, the issue of alternative has moved much forward. There is no need to discuss it here.”
Top brass of the RSS, VHP and BJP parliamentary board members, including party chief Rajnath Singh, Modi, L.K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and M.M. Joshi will attend the coordination meeting. Top brass of Sangh parivar’s other affiliates will also attend the two-day meeting. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will attend the meeting on September 9.
Sources disclosed that while the RSS is putting pressure on the BJP to take a decision soon on the PM candidate issue, a section within the party, including Mr Advani and Ms Swaraj, are not in favour of the announcement before the Assembly polls in five states. Mr Bhagwat had met Mr Advani and Ms Swaraj recently to resolve the issue but the two BJP leaders reiterated their stand and said an announcement at this stage will only effect the saffron party’s poll prospects. A section within the BJP is of the view that announcing Mr Modi’s name before the Assembly polls will help the rivals turn the poll battle into secularism vs communalism.
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