This Article is From Aug 31, 2009

RSS takes over the BJP

New Delhi:

The infighting in the BJP seems to be calming down a little, although there is still tension among the leaders as each one jostles to be in the core group of the next round of leadership.

One thing is now clear, the RSS has taken over the BJP, and with the total command that the RSS has over the BJP leaders what the RSS says is the law. So, here's the state of the BJP after the RSS take over.

RSS takes control of the BJP

  • 31 RSS workers already in BJP, 35 more to be added
  • Advani must step down and to choose his own time: RSS

The RSS had already inducted 31 RSS workers into the BJP, now the plan is to move another 35 RSS workers from the RSS into the party. These are all senior members of the BJP like organisation secretaries and many of these RSS workers have veto powers.

RSS has made it clear the Advani has to step down or step up to be a mentor or senior adviser.

The Sangh reminded him that he himself had announced after the election that he would no longer be Leader of the Opposition. And the RSS is reported to have told Mr Advani that once he announced that he would resign he should now do so.

But the RSS said they respect him and since he's a senior BJP leader, he could choose his own time.

Advani to go only after the Maharashtra elections but it must be before the next Parliament session in November.

RSS has also made sure that Sushma Swaraj will replace Mr Advani as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Arun Jaitely will be Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha effectively replacing Rajnath Singh.

The RSS has already made sure that Rajnath Singh will not be removed before the end of his term in January 2010.

It is now seems that the RSS does not want the next President to be from the current five top leaders. The next president will apparently come from the states or another leader.

The RSS has also made it clear that the Party has too many Brahmins with Sushma, Jaitely, Anant Kumar and Murli Manohar Joshi are all Brahmins and this is likely to hurt the party's image, so non-Brahmins are likely to be brought into the top leadership of the BJP.

With all these changes by the RSS, the BJP is in a state of "unstable equilibrium".

The real battle inside the BJP is going to start after the Maharashtra elections so watch this space.

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