New Delhi: After a massive triumph in the Maharashtra and Haryana elections by the BJP, thanks to the extraordinary groundwork by the RSS and its affiliated right-wing outfits, the saffron cadre is now all set to enter the Delhi elections.
Sources reveal that the saffron cadre began its groundwork for the upcoming Delhi elections soon after the conclusion of the busy Maharashtra elections and is determined to make a strong impact in the national capital.
While the RSS refrains from direct electoral politics, it remains an influential force behind BJP’s campaign machinery. For the past few months, RSS cadres and its affiliated outfits, such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), have been actively reaching out to key voter bases, particularly in slum areas that traditionally lean toward the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
VHP, an offshoot of RSS, aimed to distribute 50,000 tridents on a large-scale in the national capital last month.
Surendra Gupta, secretary of VHP’s Delhi unit, speaking to The Sunday Guardian, stated that nearly 25,000 tridents have already been distributed, with the remainder set to be handed out in the coming days.
Although RSS and its offshoots have a huge presence in Maharashtra and Haryana, with a strong ground base, Delhi presents a challenge. An insider, speaking to The Sunday Guardian, revealed that unlike culturally uniform states like Maharashtra and Haryana, Delhi poses unique challenges due to its diverse and cosmopolitan population.
“Delhi is not Maharashtra or Haryana. It lacks uniformity in culture, tradition, and language. However, the RSS and its affiliates have been steadily building a presence across communities, including migrants from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and others. It will take some more time to establish a dominant position”, he said.
As reported earlier by TSG, RSS aims to hold around 50,000 drawing-room discussions, similar to those held in Maharashtra and Haryana. Additionally, VHP plans to conduct 30,000 such meetings.
“So far, 10,000 meetings have been concluded, with 20,000 more scheduled for the coming days. While engaging with people, we are addressing their concerns such as sanitation, water supply, pollution, housing, and illegal migration, with a special focus on alleged Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants”, said Gupta.
He emphasised the significance of these interactions: “We are not here to play caste or minority politics. Our goal is to expose the fake narratives of political leaders and address the real issues affecting people. The response has been tremendous.”
Senior RSS functionaries, including Jatin, head of the North India division; Vishal, state RSS coordinator; Dayanand, key liaison between BJP and RSS; and state general secretary Anil Gupta, meet weekly to strategise.
These meetings, while routine, intensify during election
The AAP, which once enjoyed a dominant position in Delhi’s politics, now faces a formidable challenge. With the BJP leveraging the RSS’s organisational strength, the upcoming elections are unlikely to be a cakewalk for the AAP.