After endorsing both the NDA agenda and the BJP’s Vision 2004 earlier, the RSS today changed its stance and attributed the BJP’s defeat to a dilution of its ideology. Speaking to reporters, RSS spokesman Ram Madhav said that basic ideology alone can improve party fortunes. Describing the results as surprising, Madhav said Hindutva was important for the Sangh. ‘‘Our effort will be to bring he ideology back to centrestage.’’The RSS, according to him, gave full support to BJP. He said: ‘‘We tried that allies don’t create problems. We will give them whatever (support) they (BJP) want. However, ideology should be at the core for moving ahead.’’ The absence of ideology in the party campaign, according to him, made local issues important, at the party’s expense. Madhav felt that the rank and file of the Parivar felt that the BJP had diluted its ideology. The RSS spokesman took care to eulogise PM A.B. Vajpayee’s leadership notwithstanding the loss. He said the credit for the current BJP tally in the Lok Sabha went to Vajpayee.VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia said the BJP leadership, including Vajpayee, betrayed Hindus and sacrificed national security. He said the BJP used Pakistan to get the votes of Muslims and also enlisted the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid. ‘‘Hindus will not trust them,’’ Togadia said. PTI added that Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray blamed the debacle on overconfident party workers. ‘‘Many times you have to pay for the over-confidence of the party workers,’’ he said in a statement.
