RSS & BJP not willing to face facts

RSS defends Modi, blames campaign
SANJAY K. JHA
New Delhi, May 23: The RSS has diagnosed bad campaigning, not Narendra Modi or Varun Gandhi, as the cause of the BJP’s poor poll show and recommended that the only cure is re-affirmation of its ideological purity.

In the latest issue of its mouthpiece Organiser, the RSS has interpreted the verdict as the people’s rejection of smaller parties (third front) and a vote for the “evolution of a national polity.” Some essays have subtly suggested that the BJP move out of its coalition mindset and expand its own base.

“The silver lining in this electoral outcome is the unmistakable play of the national psyche and the emergence of a clear two-party system,” the editorial has said.

“There is no evidence to show that the ideology of the party has failed. There is also no evidence that the Modi campaign or the Varun Gandhi speech damaged its prospects. The BJP actually failed in presenting itself as a better alternative offering stability and a national vision. This has more to do with a mismanaged campaign and organisational weaknesses.”

The campaign was managed by the BJP’s most celebrated strategist Arun Jaitley, hailed as a rainmaker after victories in state elections.

But the RSS appears to have made a direct attack on his style of functioning. “Over-dependence on hi-tech and affluence more than grassroots-level management damaged the party. Politics is played out in the field, not in air-conditioned chat rooms.”

The RSS has also hit out at the BJP’s self-defeating obsession with media endorsement, saying “this was one of the reasons for the party losing in urban constituencies”.

After the 2004 defeat, too, the RSS and a large section of the BJP had slammed hi-tech campaigning and media obsession. The campaign in-charge then was the late Pramod Mahajan, who had apologised for the defeat.

But a more hi-tech campaign was launched this time through Advani’s website and sleek TV jingles. Nor did BJP strategists forget to shower pity on the Congress’s poor show on this front.

The RSS also does not share the dilemma of senior BJP leaders on Hindutva politics. It has indicated that any attempt to dilute ideology would be crushed with brute force. “...it has to shut its doors on all those who want to reshape it as a Congress B-team,” the editorial has said.

There has been a clamour from some BJP quarters that the party should adopt a progressive, secular agenda and fight poll on the planks of development and governance alone. Advani too unsuccessfully tried to pursue this line.

But most articles have suggested an aggressive Hindutva line. “The BJP will have no rationale if it is not a Hindu savvy party,” an article has said.

The BJP will also have to grapple with the RSS belief that the coalition era has ended. “People have become sick of coalition talk. The craze will be for parties with a pan-Indian vision and presence. Instead of wasting time coaxing and cajoling recalcitrant partners, national parties like the BJP can now concentrate on building up the organisational structure in states where it is weak,” the editorial has said.

There is a saying you can wake up a sleeping man but you cannot wake up a person who is lying awake.
The RSS is just not willing to accept the fact that their Mandir slogan is a dead issue. How long are they going to flog a dead horse?
They must realize that whatever religion a person belongs to he has certain basic needs like food, clothing and a shelter.
The Mandir slogan is just not going to give him that.
It may give huge benefits to the leaders like Ashok Singhal of VHP and others in the Bajrang Dal and other Hindu organizations.
Further you don't require a hi-tech campaign to get votes.
Your work speaks for itself.
Nitish Kumar has proved it.
Without much fanfare, he continued to work like the Ant in my previous post and he has been rewarded.
The BJP made a lot of noise like the grasshopper and so is left out in the cold.
First of all the RSS and BJP must be willing to accept where they have gone wrong, then only can they rectify their mistakes and take corrective action. If they do not do that they will be wiped out by a rejuvenated congress in the next election.
The BJP is still in power in some states.
They should tone up the administration in those states and arrange for upliftment of ALL PEOPLE, irrespective of caste or religion and provide a corruption free government.
Mr Advani had made a few election promises like issuing national identity cards for all. That should be implemented in those states so that foreigners may be traced and deported.
We should accept the minorities who have been with us since independence but we should identify the foreigners fairly.
There should be no witch-hunting.
Mr Advani had further promised computers and money for girls for their upliftment.You do that in those states where the BJP rules.
What the people want is good law and order and fairness in dealing with the poor.
If they do that, then they will not be enticed to change their religion, which the BJP is fighting and getting a bad name.
TREAT ALL INDIAN CITIZENS AT PAR, IRRESPECTIVE OF CASTE OR RELIGION.
Later, when they have won the confidence of the masses,
they should convince the people for controlling the size of their families.
without population control, the fruits of development cannot reach the masses.