The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) carried out a silent campaign in the run up to Delhi Assembly polls and went all out to persuade voters to elect an “effective and accountable” government for the progress of the national Capital. It contributed to the BJP’s thumping victory in the polls, according to sources.
Amid high-decibel poll campaigns by political parties, the RSS volunteers carried out a silent “voter awareness” drive during which “thousands of drawing-room meetings” were held across Delhi to discuss “pressing” public issues like lack of cleanliness, potable water supply and healthcare services as well as air pollution and cleaning of Yamuna river.
In such meetings, they also sought to “bust the hype” around the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) much-touted Delhi model of governance, highlighting the issue of corruption and non-fulfilment of several promises that Arvind Kejriwal-led party made during its 10-year rule, the sources said. The issue of illegal immigrants in Delhi was also discussed in these meetings, they added.
“At least 500 drawing room (small group) meetings were held in Dwarka alone,” a source in the RSS said. “In such meetings, the RSS volunteers only highlight and discuss the issues affecting the people. They do not explicitly ask them to cast their votes in support of any particular political party. People are just made aware of the issues and exhorted to cast their votes to elect an effective and accountable government,” the source added.
According to the sources, the RSS volunteers started their campaign more than a month ahead of the election. Small group meetings were also held in slums and unauthorised colonies, where AAP was known to have considerable support. RSS workers also joined hands with like-minded individuals and organisations serving in these areas to spread awareness, the sources said.
As the ideological fountainhead of the BJP, the RSS is known for such voter outreach initiatives. However, after the BJP’s underwhelming performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the RSS launched such campaigns with renewed focus in Haryana and Maharashtra, the two states where the BJP retained power with a thumping victory in recent months.
