•Do you have any analysis as to why they didn’t do it?

I don’t know. They could have taken their own internal decision at that time. Mayawati came up with the NSA and it became very difficult for the BJP to...

•...If the BJP has to reposition itself as a modern, conservative, right of centre party in India, the second pole of Indian politics, ideologically, politically and philosophically, can it continue to show such deference to the RSS? Because it is an extra-constitutional centre of power. There is always an impression that the RSS decides who should be the leader, the RSS persuades Advani not to resign, the RSS persuades so and so to become this. How can this go on?

There is a link between the RSS and the BJP that cannot be broken. It is necessary today for not only the BJP to assess what has happened but also the RSS to make an assessment of its policies and ideologies. They must have another look at what their objectives are.

• You think there is need for the RSS to introspect?

They have to do it, because the election results were so disastrous that if you don’t make an assessment of the situation then you will never recover.

•You said at the very beginning of this conversation that people did not like the characterisation of the Prime Minister as weak.

By calling him the weakest prime minister, more publicity was given to the Prime Minister than he did for himself.

... contd.