Leadership issue casts shadow over RSS national executive conclave

NAGPUR, MARCH 9: A day-long conclave of the Akhil Bhartiya Karyakari Mandal (national executive) of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) ...

NAGPUR, MARCH 9: A day-long conclave of the Akhil Bhartiya Karyakari Mandal (national executive) of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) began here on Thursday amidst reports about the change of guard in leadership and assessment by its think-tank on development in Gandhinagar.

The meeting assumes significance because the top RSS functionaries, representing various frontal organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, are likely to work out modalities to set the agenda for the three-day triennial Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha (Governing Council of RSS) beginning on Friday.

RSS supremo Prof Rajendra Singh alias Rajju Bhaiyya has virtually prevailed upon the top brass of the organisation to relieve him from the post in view of his ill-health, according to RSS sources.

A local Marathi daily Tarun Bharat, considered to be a mouthpiece of the Sangh Parivar, carried a news report saying that Rajju Bhaiyya might announce his successor during this mega event despite pressure on him by organisation bigwigs to continue in the post.

The mantle may fall on senior RSS leader K Sudarshan who is presently Sahsarkaryawah (assistant secretary) or number three in the hierarchy, reflecting the choice for a dynamic leadership’.

However, the reports of the daily did not mention a word about the Sarkaryawah (general secretary) H V Sheshadri who is also reportedly not keeping good health. RSS sources said in the event of change in leadership, a formal announcement would probably be made on Friday.

The National executive is likely to discuss threadbare the abrupt decision of the Keshubhai Patel government to withdraw its circular allowing state employees to participate in RSS activities. Formal reaction of the top brass is expected during the day, sources said.

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All the prominent functionaries of frontal organisations of the RSS have arrived here for the national executive. They include Ashok Singhal, Acharya Giriraj Kishore of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, veteran trade union leader Dattopant Thengdi of the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and Shivkant Ojha, Uttar Pradesh Minister for Science and Power.

The 250-member Akhil Bhartiya Karyakari Mandal of the RSS consists of 22 executive committee members, besides chiefs of all the provinces and special invitees.

Most of the deliberations of the RSS conclave would be a closed-door affair.