As the crucial by-elections for nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh approach, the Sangh Parivar has mobilised its cadre to ensure a decisive victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Booth-wise teams of RSS workers have been activated in the respective constituencies, working discreetly yet determinedly to lay the groundwork for BJP's success.
These teams, while keeping a distance from BJP's official events, are reaching out to various communities to propagate the message of national interest and communal unity, guided by the mantra of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath: "Katoge to batoge"
The renewed involvement of the Sangh Parivar follows a period of strained relations between the BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The tension had escalated earlier this year when BJP President JP Nadda remarked that the party had grown strong enough to operate independently, without the need for RSS support. This statement led to a lull in the Sangh's activities, resulting in a perceived weakening of the Hindutva agenda and a fragmentation of Hindu communities. The BJP felt the repercussions of this during subsequent electoral setbacks.
However, the recent decline in the unity of Hindu voters has prompted the Sangh to reassess its strategy. According to insiders, both the RSS and BJP have realized the importance of mending their alliance to ensure a favorable outcome in the upcoming by-elections, as well as in the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The BJP has since sought the support of the Sangh to reinforce its grassroots campaign in Uttar Pradesh.
Now, with a renewed sense of purpose, the RSS has re-engaged its network to prepare the electoral field for the BJP. Ground-level contact programs have been initiated to build public support.
The campaign hinges on CM Yogi Adityanath's slogan, "Katoge to batoge", emphasizing the need for unity among Hindus in the face of caste divides.
The Sangh's workers are focusing on small gatherings, meeting with groups of 5-10 people, where discussions revolve around national interest, Hindutva, governance, development, and local issues. Although the Sangh's teams refrain from overtly endorsing the BJP in these meetings, the subtle shaping of public opinion aligns closely with the BJP's electoral goals.
The Sangh Parivar's renewed efforts are not limited to Uttar Pradesh.
Meetings held in Lucknow, as well as in other states where elections are imminent, have laid out a comprehensive strategy to replicate this approach in other regions. The blueprint reflects the success achieved in the Haryana assembly elections earlier this year, where the RSS teams conducted nearly 1.25 lakh small meetings across the state.
These gatherings, aimed at countering the then Congress government's Jat-centric policies and addressing local concerns like the Agneepath recruitment scheme, played a crucial role in turning public sentiment in favor of the BJP.
In Uttar Pradesh, the RSS has prepared similar teams for the 10 assembly seats that are part of the upcoming electoral contest, even though voting will occur on nine seats.
The grassroots approach is designed to bolster BJP's standing among all sections of society, aiming to bridge divides and consolidate votes under a broader narrative of Hindutva and national unity. As the by-elections loom, the Sangh Parivar's behind-the-scenes efforts are expected to play a pivotal role in determining the outcome.
The by-elections are widely seen as a test of the BJP's organizational strength and the resonance of its campaign themes, as well as the effectiveness of its alliance with the RSS.
A victory in these by-elections would not only boost the BJP's momentum in Uttar Pradesh but could also set the tone for the party's performance in the upcoming assembly elections in other states.
