On the eve of the RSS chief’s Vijayadashami address in the Capital on Friday, crucial BJP ally JD(U) today warned against any Sangh “takeover of the BJP”, saying: “There cannot ever be two power centres in a political party.”
Speaking of Bhagwat’s recent stay in Delhi for three days, JD(U) president and acting NDA convenor Sharad Yadav said: “(During that time) an impression gained ground that there was another high command in the BJP. There cannot be two drivers in a bus; similarly there cannot be two powers of centre in a political entity. This is the biggest problem for the BJP today.”
Many among the BJP top brass are expected to turn up in RSS’s khaki shorts and topi for RSS Sarsanghachalak Bhagwat’s address, including party chief Rajnath Singh and general secretary Ram Lal. Apart from shashtra pujan, Bhagwat will address the swayamsevaks. It follows similar Vijayadashmi rallies in Mumbai and Nagpur.
Yadav also said that by some of its recent policy moves and policy pronouncements, “the BJP-RSS may actually have played into Congress hands”.
Emphasising “fundamental differences” with the RSS over its core ideology, the JD(U) leader questioned the Sangh’s talk of a younger leadership in the BJP. “The present RSS chief has been laying a lot of thrust on this, realising little that it takes decades to build a leader. Look at the age group that its leaders like Balasaheb Deoras and Rajju Bhaiya belonged to. By repeatedly stressing on a younger leadership, they played into the hands of the Congress. Wey log Congress ke akhada mein chale gaye (they played the game as per the rules set by the Congress),” said Yadav.
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