The third tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi got off to a turbulent start. A series of unrelated events—paper leaks, a train accident and terror attacks— within weeks of his swearing-in thrust the government into crisis management mode. Additionally, the BJP's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, appears to have conveyed a message of “course correction” as the ruling party did not secure a majority on its own in the Lok Sabha elections.
The RSS message delivered publicly, often couched as advice to every swayamsevak, meant that it was heard within the parivar. It started with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressing the trainees in Nagpur, a day after the Modi government was sworn in. Bhagwat's insistence on peace in strife-torn Manipur, which has been burning for a year, was seen as call for action by the government.
He spoke of adherence to decorum during elections and using consensus to engage with the opposition. “A true sevak maintains dignity,” he said to the trainees. “He follows decorum while working. He does not have the arrogance to say, 'I did this work.'
Only that person can be called a true sevak.” It was interpreted by many as a shot at the swayamsevak who heads the government. Senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar’s subsequent jibe that arrogance restricted the BJP to 240 seats further amplified it.
The RSS-inclined publication Organiser, which analysed the 2024 results, also highlighted weaknesses in the BJP’s messaging and strategy, particularly in not listening to feedback from the cadre and inducting tainted leaders into the fold.
As the controversy swirled in Delhi’s power corridors, several sangh commentators argued that Bhagwat’s message caused a stir because of its timing, but noted that he had expressed similar views earlier, too. “But what Indresh ji said, we are not sure of his motivation, but he retracted it later,” said a sangh insider.
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