Mohan Bhagwat, the Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), while admitting that there is a struggle with the Narendra Modi-led government, denied any quarrel between the organisation and the Centre.
“We have good coordination with the Centre and states. There are systems that have internal contradictions… There is no quarrel in any way… we have good coordination with every government,” he said at a press conference.
The RSS chief further said that there might be conflicting opinions, but they (the RSS and BJP) hold discussions to take a collective decision. “Struggle might be there but there is no quarrel. When we talk of compromise, the struggle deepens… the goal is the same… There may be opinions, but we discuss, a collective decision gets taken,” he said.
Responding to a pointed question about the notion that it is the RSS that decides everything, including the appointment of the BJP president, he dismissed the notion as completely wrong and not remotely possible. “It is completely wrong to say that everything is decided by the Sangh, it is not possible… I have been running a shakha for 50 years now. If someone gives me advice about that, I am the expert there. When it comes to running the state, they have been doing it for long, hence they are the experts. We know each other’s areas of expertise… Suggestions can be given, but the decision in their field is theirs, and in our field, it is ours,” he said, adding, “Would it have taken this long if we were the ones deciding?”
His remarks came amid speculation that the RSS and the BJP are at loggerheads over the appointment of a new BJP chief.
It all started after BJP President JP Nadda said that the saffron party has now become capable enough to run its affairs. His remarks were seen by many as a result of the growing differences between the party and its ideological front.
Mohan Bhagwat, after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, had slammed the BJP and the Opposition parties for not maintaining dignity during the campaign.