At the end, RSS to call the shots for saffron selection

Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 25

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The BJP’s parent organisation — the RSS — will call the shots for the allotment of party tickets for the October 21 Assembly elections.

In fact, the RSS connection of ticket aspirants has always played an important role in the allotment of tickets and the current Assembly election is no different. With the selection in the final stages, the contenders are leaving no stone unturned to use their “Sangh connections” in a bid to bag the ticket.

Sources said with the recent appointment of assertive RSS ideologue BL Santosh as BJP general secretary (organisation), the RSS would play a key role in the final selection of party candidates. Santosh is a member of the powerful central election committee, which finalises the names of candidates for the Assembly elections. State BJP general secretary (organisation) Suresh Bhatt is also a member of the state election committee, which recommends candidates’ names to the central body.

Apparently, the RSS does not play a direct role in the allotment of party tickets. However, feedback from the RSS office-bearers, who hold regular consultations with senior functionaries of the state government and party, play a deciding role in the allotment of the ticket.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was an RSS pracharak before he plunged into active politics in 2014. With former pracharak as the chief minister, the role of the RSS in the BJP politics cannot be overemphasised as he holds regular consultations with Sangh leaders.

Even before kicking off the process for the finalisation of candidates, Khattar is reported to have held “consultations” with the RSS top brass about the prospective candidates.

Tracing roots to RSS

Manohar Lal Khattar was RSS pracharak from 1980 to 1994 before being sent to the BJP by the Sangh. During 2000–2014, Khattar was general secretary (organisation) and was also chairman of the Haryana BJP Election Campaign Committee for the 2014 parliamentary elections.

Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma was a pracharak before his first electoral win from Mahendragarh in 1987.

Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar has been associated with the RSS as “swayamsevak”.

Health Minister Anil Vij was active in the ABVP, student wing of the RSS, before his entry into Haryana Assembly in 1990. 

Finalising names 

With the recent appointment of assertive RSS ideologue BL Santosh as BJP general secretary (organisation), the RSS will play a key role in the selection of party candidates. Santosh is the member of the powerful central election committee, which finalises the candidates.