RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s assertion that the next BJP president should not be Delhi-based is not a well-thought out idea (‘Time for a split’, IE, November 10). Rajnath Singh’s tenure as party president has been disastrous for the party as factionalism has gripped it. After the debacle seen in the Lok Sabha elections, there were reports from various state units that the RSS had spoilt the fortunes of the party by forcing the latter to field its favourites. At a time when the party is heading towards irrelevance in UP — where it lost its strongholds such as the Lucknow (West) assembly seat in the recently concluded by-polls — the time is ripe for the RSS to exercise restraint so that the BJP can reinvent itself.

— Manoj Parashar

Greater Noida

A prediction

THIS refers to ‘UPA wave continues, biggest ripple in UP where Mulayam begins to sink’ (IE, November 11). The results of the “mini-elections” show that the Congress has continued its impressive electoral run winning 10 of 31 by-elections across the seven states. Besides the Congress, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have emerged as the main gainers. Credit must also be given for smart politics to the TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, who settled a personal score with her ally the Congress too by working on one occasion as the B-team of the Left Front. But the big surprise of this by-election was not the ruling BSP’s victory but the wipeout of the Samajwadi Party from UP. Though it’s too early to say it seems as though the Congress will be the main challenger for the BSP in the coming election.

... contd.