THE BHAGWAT DHARMA

Under Mohan Bhagwat's leadership, the RSS sharpened its stance, using the Lok Sabha election results to assert its influence and push for a recalibration in the BJP's approach

- Anilesh S. Mahajan

This year's Lok Sabha election results delivered an unexpected twist. The BJP's tumble from 303 to 240 seats, signalling a diminished aura for the Modi government, widened the ambit of political discourse. Opposition criticism could be predicted. The real shock came from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP's ideological mentor.

RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat delivered a series of remarks that many believed to be a critique of the BJP's leadership, its campaign strategies, and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. Bhagwat seemed to be articulating misgivings on several fronts. He criticised the divisive rhetoric employed by some BJP leaders, expressed unease with the Modi-centric narrative (Modi ki Guarantee) of the campaign, and lamented the lack of attention paid to feedback from RSS affiliates. He also raised questions about the absorption of politicians ideologically incompatible to the BJP.