Amidst Government formation talks with the PDP in Jammu & Kashmir and the fluid political situation in Bihar following break up of the JD(U), BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday met senior RSS leaders in the Capital.
Shah visited the RSS headquarters in Jhandewalan and met senior RSS leaders Suresh Bhayyaji Joshi, Dattatreya Hosbole, Suresh Soni and Krishan Gopal. He was reportedly in the RSS office for about an hour.
Shah also held a separate meeting with Krishan Gopal, the RSS pointsman in dealing with BJP affairs.
The last minute hiccups in the BJP-PDP alliance in Jammu & Kashmir, fast-paced developments in Bihar politics and poll defeat in Delhi are also learnt to have figured in the discussion between the two sides.
With BJP general secretary Ram Madhav at the head of negotiations with the PDP, both the sides are trying to nuance their respective stands on AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act). The PDP is demanding withdrawal of AFSPA from the State as Army strongly supports its continued enforcement to help fight militancy in the border State.
RSS has reportedly sought the Government that there should be no compromise with the internal security. The PDP and the BJP are cautiously working on negotiations to deal with AFSPA as they need to address their respective political constituencies on the sensitive issue.
The political situation in Bihar which would go to the poll later this year and Delhi poll debacle also reportedly came up for discussion during Shah-RSS meet.
Trouncing of the BJP in Delhi after a series of electoral wins in State Assemblies since lok Sabha poll has shocked central party leaders. An almost one-sided result (AAP 67 seats and BJP 3) was “unprecedented and unanticipated”, senior leaders admitted over last few weeks.
“Cadre disinterest” in campaigning, the last minute entry and “imposition” of former IPS officer Kiran Bedi as face of the BJP, negative campaigning and undue delay in postponing polls have been cited by party leaders as some of the important reasons for the Delhi debacle.