Modi critic Togadia loses VHP control, Kokje new head

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 14

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most vocal critic Pravin Togadia no longer holds the control of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) — the BJP’s sister organisation in the Sangh Parivar.

The RSS’ affiliate elected former Himachal Pradesh Governor VS Kokje as its new “international president” in the elections held for the first time. Togadia did not contest, but his loyalist Raghav Reddy lost to Kokje, who had been holding the post of the VHP vice-president since 2014.

Kokje, who polled 131 out of 192 votes, is believed to have the backing of not just the Sangh, but also it political arm — the BJP.

Togadia, who the Parishad on Friday accused of “trying to create impediments in the elections process”, has promised to work for the welfare of “100 crore Hindus” with a new organisation — “Hindu hi aage”.

However, so far as the VHP goes, its controls are definitely out of his hands. The results are bound to change the affect the way the organisation has been functioning under Togadia with him directly challenging the authority of the Prime Minister and his government.

Next year, the BJP will fight to retain power and clearly neither the party nor the Sangh wanted any unnecessary controversies affecting the outcome. It is an important decision in context of the Ayodhya temple judgment, expected before the 2019 poll.

Togadia is demanding a legislation to facilitate in building a Ram Temple at the disputed site.

Sangh leaders say it is “important to keep in mind the country’s welfare even while being critical”. In his sharpest attack against Modi, Togadia recently said the BJP won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections on the development plank (Sab ka saath sab ka vikas), but “neither did the Hindus got Ram Temple neither vikas”.