RSS shadow did us in,says BJP

The RSS had announced that it would actively support the BJP,especially in UP,during the elections. Former RSS chief KS Sudarshan had visited all the five zones of the BJP to ensure the Sangh played a major role in the elections. RSS sources said regional coordinators of the Sangh were placed in all the constituencies.

Except candidates like Yogi Adityanath,Vinay Katiyar,Murli Mohan Joshi and those in the western UP where RLD was a partner,all the other candidates had a RSS coordinator with them. Said an RSS office bearer,“Even Rajnath Singh was accompanied by a coordinator who managed his public meetings and monitored his activities.”

A candidate from central UP,who lost to the Samajwadi Party,said,“I never liked so much interference of the Sangh. But the party seniors insisted that we cannot refuse their support.”

The RSS is also said to have ‘manipulated’ the ticket distribution. “Many probable candidates were working in the constituencies for last two years. But due to several pressures,their tickets were rejected,” said BJP’s state vice president HN Dixit. He added,“The Sangh played a very active role in the elections and at a few places,they were out quite actively.”

While the BJP says the Sangh had insisted to provide the support,the Sangh says the BJP had asked for help. JK Sinha,organisation secretary for the RSS Awadh Prant,said: “The BJP shares our ideology and hence we have a significant role to play in its functioning. We supported them during the elections because they had asked for it. Our coordinators played an active role in campaigning.” Sinha added that the Sangh also “gave suggestions” about the ticket distribution.

Over the next week,the BJP officials will meet the Sangh pramukhs to discuss the issue.

Meetings lined up

To discuss the defeat in the elections,senior BJP leaders and election in-charges will meeting at New Delhi on May 27. Party president Rajnath Singh and general secretary Arun Jaitley will meet the UP office bearers at Lucknow on May 29. ENS