Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsangchalak Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks regarding the retirement age for those in public life, has triggered speculation regarding his plans for his own future. Mr Bhagwat turns 75 years this September and what is to be seen is whether the RSS chief’s stipulation of age limit was just a casual remark, or aimed at sending a clear message down the line to all those associated with the Sangh Parivar. Bhagwat, while speaking at a book launch function dedicated to RSS ideologue, the late Moropant Pingle at Nagpur, said, “when you turn 75, it means you should stop now and make way for others”. He also recalled that Pingle had a very humorous nature and had once stated, “if you are honoured with a shawl after turning 75, it means that you should stop now, you are too old, step aside and let others come in”.
Pingle, whose devotion to national service was exemplary, believed in withdrawing gracefully once age signalled it was time, he said. The RSS chief’s remarks come in the backdrop of reports regarding serious differences within the saffron brigade over the appointment of the next BJP president. Mr J.P. Nadda’s extended tenure has to end and the RSS as well as the BJP have been over the past few months discussing various names, some of whom are considered inconvenient for some in the top leadership. The RSS has made it clear that the next BJP president should be someone who has deep rooted commitment to the Sangh’s ideology, and anyone coming from some other background would not be acceptable.
The insistence on a person from the RSS background has eliminated the possibility of multiple names which were doing the rounds. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have suggested a few possible candidates and it is not immediately known whether those would get the required endorsement from the Sangh. There have also been reports regarding the possibility of Sanjay Joshi, who has formerly held several important positions within the Sangh and the BJP being considered for the top position. However, the RSS is not naïve and would never do something without going through the pros and cons of the matter.
Top functionaries of the RSS have been debating the issue for the past many months and have reached the conclusion that commitment to ideology and service to the Parivar must be taken into consideration while making any choice. Over the past few years, there has been a disquiet within the Sangh that “outsiders” from other parties were getting plum positions while those who had served the Sangh and the BJP were being completely sidelined. Initially, political contingency was said to be the reason for accepting these decisions, but the Sangh now appears to be determined, that this would not go on, as it would ultimately have an impact on its overall functioning. It is significant to note that during the Parliamentary polls last year, the BJP president, J.P. Nadda had given an interview to a newspaper where he stated that the umbilical cord his party had with the RSS had to be broken to enable the BJP to be self-sufficient and self-reliant.
This was when the RSS had not wholeheartedly participated in the election campaign, resulting in the BJP failing to get a majority on its own. Since then, the RSS-BJP relations were repaired and in the subsequently held polls in Haryana and Delhi, the Sangh volunteers worked for the BJP and ensured its success. The point is that the BJP understands the importance of the Sangh and thus will not go against its wishes under any circumstances. It is also a fact that in the past decade, the Prime Minister’s leadership had allowed the BJP to reap many political dividends. His large following includes many who had nothing to do with the Sangh in the past but have gravitated towards him because of his immense popularity and contribution. Now the question also arises that Bhagwat would have never made these remarks regarding retirement without any reason. Many are also interpreting that in the centenary year of the RSS, Bhagwat was speaking for himself and may leave his supreme position in the RSS to pave the way for Dattatreya Hosabale as his successor.
There are also those who believe that it was a hint for the cadres to witness someone else taking over, which at one juncture appeared impossible. India has had Prime Ministers who have occupied the position after being past that age. The list is long and one should recall that Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister while he was nearing 90. Amit Shah had also stated earlier that Modi would lead the BJP in the 2029 polls. The 75 years’ informal age bar came into effect in 2014 and was primarily aimed at keeping out the two BJP cofounders, L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi from the decision-making process of the party. This was done because of political compulsions, but the age limit has come to now haunt all those who took that decision. Bhagwat’s remarks cannot be dismissed easily. The appointment of the next BJP chief would provide the answers.
