RSS cadres await chief

On the first day of his visit,Bhagwat will be meeting RSS workers,on the second,he will meet young leaders and workers from BJP and RSS for two hours.

A leader said: “We had kept this meeting open for everyone who is in the youth bracket,as Bhagwat wants to interact with them separately. He had held a similar meeting recently in Allahabad too.”

In his recent statements,Bhagwat had signalled that the BJP needs young leadership and the election of 52-year-old Nitin Gadkari as the youngest national president has been considered a major step towards achieving that goal.

As a preparation for the meeting with the youths,the RSS has collected details of the young office bearers (below 50 years) of BJP and those who have joined the RSS in the last five years from Awadh.

The details include their educational and professional backgrounds.

Sources say Bhagwat has stressed that he should be aware of the professional backgrounds of all those who will be attending the meeting and the details had to be sent to him in advance.

One of the young BJP leaders who met Bhagwat during his Allahabad visit,said: “This was the first time I could meet such a senior leader. With Bhagwat saying that youths should be promoted,we are happy that we will now have a say in important matters.”

He added that during the meeting,Bhagwat not just asked how their educational and professional qualifications can be an asset for the party,but also guided them on what is expected of them during these changing times.

Lucknow’s young corporator Gaurav Bhatia (30),who will also be meeting Bhagwat during the visit with some of his supporters,said the visit and meeting will provide them the guidance they always wanted.

“We have chosen politics because we wanted to serve the people in a better way,” Bhatia said. “But so far,we did not get any guidance on how we can come closer to the people or contribute to the party’s growth.”

Bhatia,who has also put up hoardings to welcome the leader,said he has been following Bhagwat’s words ever since he has been associated with the RSS. “For us,the meeting will help us find our place in the organisation.”