Why RSS, not BJP, is the real challenge for Congress

Will targeting Narendra Modi or the BJP help the Congress revive itself? Not really. The real power behind both lie elsewhere and the party would be better off drawing a strategy to offer a sturdy challenge to the organisational and ideological might of the RSS. Taking on the RSS would mean optimum utilisation of the party’s organisation that remains largely defunct in most parts.

The RSS has been the lifeline behind BJP’s election campaign in the general elections earlier this year. In fact, earlier too whenever the Sangh has thrown its weight behind the BJP it has tasted electoral success. According to available data, there are approximately 44,982 RSS Shakhas (branches/units) that are being conducted at 29,624 places across the country. Saptahik Milans (weekly congregation) are held at over 10,000 places, while Sangh Mandalis (monthly congregation) are going about their work at almost 7000 places. Nearly 20 lakh people are believed to be attending the Shakhas every morning in every district of the country.

The organisational strength of the RSS is way too big for any political party to match. If at all there is one, it can only be the Congress, but it needs to have a well oiled machinery to be able to run it as seamlessly as the Nagpur-based outfit. But more importantly it is the kind of “all pervading ideology” that they preach that makes the RSS a difficult opponent. The Congress has a political ideology and it spreads through its supporters especially during times of election and party conclaves, but occupies little mind space in the supporter once he’s out of that zone. The RSS is more about converting people into their fold, which makes the bonding very strong.

“BJP is a mask, the RSS is the main ideology behind them,” said Akhilesh Pratap Singh, national spokesperson for the Congress, while responding to a question on his party’s approach towards the Sangh. “But they are daily wages visionaries unlike Nehru, Indira and Rajiv ji. They only work on rumours and false dreams, which can only work in the short run,” he added. Given the weight the RSS carries at the moment it is not easy to dismiss it so easily, particularly for a party struggling to find its feet after a disastrous general election.

When Rahul Gandhi had gone to the late Khuswant Singh for some advice on running organisations, he was told to learn it from the RSS. This was one of the factors that led to Rahul experimenting with frontal organisations by holding internal elections and democratising the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and National Students Union of India (NSUI). But that obviously has not proved enough. The party needs to do much more, particularly at a time when the RSS is busy drumming up its Hindutva agenda. The victory in the general elections has rejuvenated the Sangh and the new vigour is reflected in Mohan Bhagwat’s recent statements on Hindutva. Though the Congress has criticised the Sangh patriarch, the sting seems to be missing.

“The RSS has become extremely intolerant now and their agenda of divisive politics is known to everyone,” says Jitin Prasada, former Union minister and a close aide of Rahul Gandhi. “Their hype will slowly fade and people will want substance, that’s when the Congress will step in,” he adds.

But it may not be easy. Moreover, the party high command seems reluctant to come out of its shell. If it wants to take on Modi it also needs to prepare to take the fight to the RSS. “Advani ji and Vajpayee ji were only a shade different from Congress leaders because they were more political in nature,” says Shivraj Singh, chief general secretary of the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP, an NDA ally). “But Modi is different and his roots as a pracharak are a binding force for the RSS workers,” he added.

Clearly, the Congress has a lot of work to do. more