Today in Politics: Are BJP, RSS not in lockstep with each other?

Though, as Deeptiman Tiwary reported, the RSS has distanced itself from Kumar’s statement and said they do not represent its views, there is a sense among all this that the Sangh and the BJP are not exactly in sync, at least not as much as they would like to. As a source told Liz Mathew earlier this week after the RSS chief’s comments, “This kind of public expression means there is a problem in communication between the Sangh and the party. Bhagwatji rarely criticises the BJP leaders publicly.”

An initial assessment by BJP leaders has pointed to three broad reasons for the party’s below-par performance in the key heartland states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana. And one of those is poor election management, a surprising failure of the BJP’s famed poll juggernaut. This resulted in an unenthusiastic cadre and, in turn, dented the BJP’s ability to mobilise its voters.

As a senior BJP leader explained to Liz, one of the things that hurt the party is that it “lost steam” when it came to the two big campaign points of anti-corruption and anti-dynasty politics by “inducting leaders such as Ajit Pawar and parties such as JD(S) and TDP”. This is something that recently found mention in the RSS-linked journal Organiser, where a longtime Sangh member wrote about how allying with Pawar reduced the “brand value of the BJP” and turned it into “just another party without any difference”.

Then there is the matter of allegations of “internal sabotage” and internal differences that are coming to the fore in UP, as illustrated by the public war of words between former Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan and former MLA Sangeet Singh Som. For a party known for its cadre discipline, this shows that not all is well within the organisation right now.

As the BJP looks to begin its poll review, it will have to keep in mind that not all of its cadre and backers, including sections of the Sangh, are happy with how things have gone and that it needs to sort all of this out before the crucial Assembly elections later this year in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand.

Amid reports that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath may meet Bhagwat in Gorakhpur on Saturday, the burning questions are how all this will shape up in the days to come, how the ruling party will move to course correct, and what more, if any, the RSS has to say.

Recommended reading: In BJP’s initial evaluation of LS poll results, 3 possible reasons why it lost ground in UP, Rajasthan, Haryana

What is happening in the Opposition?

Meanwhile, just over a week away from Parliament reconvening for a special session from June 24 to July 3, where the Opposition INDIA alliance finds itself will be among one of the questions. As of now, there is not much clarity. The alliance last held its big meeting in Delhi on June 5, a day after the Lok Sabha poll results were declared.

While the Congress and the SP have publicly declared that in UP they are planning to continue the tie-up, the AAP and the Congress that had a tie-up only in Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, and Goa in the Lok Sabha elections may not be on the same page. While the Haryana Lok Sabha elections are scheduled for later this year, Delhi goes to polls early next year.

How things unfold in the Opposition camp in the coming days, if they can present a coherent front against the BJP-led NDA will be among the things to watch out for.