RSS’ Suresh Soni, who was removed from the influential post of coordinator between the RSS and BJP in October 2014, is likely to be appointed back. Soni’s appointment, who is the joint general secretary of the RSS, is likely to be finalised in Kanpur next week during the annual RSS prant pracharaks’ meeting that is scheduled for 11-17 July.
RSS and BJP functionaries, who are aware of this possibility, stated that the decision regarding Soni may be announced next week. The meet, among others, will be attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
A BJP national vice president told this newspaper that Krishna Gopal Sharma, who had replaced Soni in October 2014, was doing good work in his role, but did not rule out the return of Soni. “Gopalji has been doing a good job and he has good equations with the RSS chief and Soniji both. The decision regarding Soniji’s appointment will happen next week.”
Similarly, an RSS functionary from an eastern state stated that the replacement of Sharma was likely to happen by next week. “I cannot confirm whether Soniji is going to replace him or someone else will take his place, that will be decided in the annual meet”, he said.
The All India Executive of RSS will lay down the action plan of its different activities for the next one year. Pracharaks from all 44 prants and 11 kshetras from across the country will take part in the camp. From 11 to 13 July, prant pracharaks will be talking to each other, after which top functionaries of the RSS will be involved in the discussion.
Soni was in charge of BJP affairs in the RSS between 2006 and October 2014. He is also famous for making sure that wishes of BJP patriarch L.K. Advani were ignored during the Goa national executive, where Narendra Modi was announced as the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate.
RSS insiders say that Sharma’s inability to evolve into an organisational role, something that Soni excels in, is likely to be one of the reasons for the veteran Sharma being given new responsibilities.
The return of Soni might come as a surprise for Madhya Pradesh Chief minister Shirvaj Singh Chouhan, who had prevailed upon the top BJP leadership to remove Prabhat Jha from the post of BJP state president of Madhya Pradesh in December 2012. Jha is the protégé of Soni and Chouhan made sure that he was removed from Madhya Pradesh over speculation that Soni was trying to install Jha as CM.