An alleged move to convert the BJP’s booth committees in Kerala into RSS shakhas has triggered protests among party leaders in the state. They argue that the move would diminish the “democratic character” of the BJP at a time when it is trying very hard to expand in the state by building a multi-community support base. Party leaders said they would seek the central leadership’s intervention in the matter, and raise the issue at a state party meeting to be convened by BJP chief Amit Shah on August 23. According to some leaders, the move has the backing of state BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan. However, Rajasekharan denied it, and told The Indian Express that booth committee meetings were being convened in a democratic process and there was “nothing secretive” about it. State BJP leaders said there were “concerns” about the way booth committee meetings were being conducted. They said the meetings were being held like RSS shakhas, with geet and group discussions, and ending with Namaste Sada Vatsale Matrubhoome (My salutation to you, loving Motherland). “Some booth committees follow all the routines except the physical training,” said a source. The leaders said this trend had “upset many BJP supporters belonging to other communities and those who do not want to follow the RSS ideology”. “If the BJP has to grow as a political party, it has to follow democratic principles and run like a democratic party. It cannot be run like the RSS,” said a senior leader. Not satisfied with the party’s performance in the recent Assembly polls, Shah had instructed the state unit to explore possibilities of wooing other communities, especially Christians. Sources said the turn of events was the outcome of a growing concern in the RSS about its diminishing prospects against the growth of the BJP. While Kerala had the highest number of shakhas — 4,500 — many of them have become inactive as its members have become part of the BJP. According to some state BJP leaders, even the RSS has reservations about converting booth committees into shakhas as the organisation fears the shakhas would lose credibility. Rajasekharan said the complaint was baseless. “Those who said this have no idea about how the party functions and how the RSS functions. The BJP’s booth committees are functioning in a democratic way. We have a practice of beginning the meeting with Vande Mataram. Even the RSS functions openly, there is nothing secretive about it,” he said. Sources said the appointment of RSS leaders as constituency managers could be a reason for the transformation of booth committees. “Almost 90 constituencies have RSS people at the helm of affairs of the party. They would also appoint RSS people till the mandal level. This would keep minorities — who do not want to side with the RSS — away from the BJP ,” said a party leader. “If booth meetings are conducted like this, the party will not only lose its democratic character but will be weakened at the ground level,” said another leader.
