The bunker mentality that has gripped the ruling faction in the BJP stems from a distortion in the political process. An unintended and undesirable consequence of the

Jinnah controversy that led to Advani’s ouster was the transfer of real power from the politicians to the pracharaks. Beginning from the selection of Rajnath as Advani’s successor to the constitutional amendments that conferred extraordinary powers on RSS-appointed organising secretaries, the RSS has become the predominant power centre in the BJP, but without acquiring the corresponding moral authority.

The implications of this shift are ominous. First, a major chunk of political decisions have been entrusted to essentially non-political individuals whose exposure has been limited to one ideological parivar. This resulted in serious miscalculations in both candidate selection and campaign management in UP. It also explains why many in the RSS are less than enthusiastic about a thorough post-mortem of the UP experience.

Secondly, the new equations have bred a culture of non-accountability to the wider party. Rajnath’s survival strategy over the past two years has been to second-guess the RSS on issues that are dear to it. This clever tokenism, plus the strategic deployment of RSS nominees in key operational areas, has ensured him a functional freedom without any accountability. Rajnath can afford to disregard feelings in the party because he knows his future is not dependent on fellow politicians. He just has to keep the appointing authority in good humour.

Of course, not everything need be blamed on an over-bearing RSS. For the past three years the BJP has more or less abandoned projecting its own policy perspectives. There are vast areas of economics, social policy and foreign policy to which the BJP has just not applied its mind. This has made it possible for sectional interests to masquerade as policy. It is an open secret that many out-of-power BJP leaders have found a vocation as lobbyists for contractors and corporates. It is also said quite openly that to get places in the BJP hierarchy, an endorsement from the right quarter of the Samajwadi Party is more than helpful.

... contd.