A senior BJP leader expressed dismay over what he described as “intolerable levels” of interference by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Telangana BJP affairs and felt that it would be detrimental to the party if the trend continued in future.
The leader, who has been with the party since its inception, requesting anonymity, said that barring a few, the selection of candidates as well as the seats which were sought by the BJP in its alliance with the Telugu Desam were virtually decided by Telangana RSS activists leaving little say to the party in the matter. “This kind of direct interference has happened for the first time in the country. It has never happened before or anywhere else,” he added.
Although the local RSS opposed the tie-up with Telugu Desam, the central BJP leadership was firm on the alliance and its decision was backed by the RSS at the national level, he added.
The BJP functionary alleged that the party’s State election committee, which met on a few occasions to select candidates, could not take decisions and act transparently. Another important body, the core committee, did not even meet for the past few months.
Charging that more than 50 per cent of the candidates selected this time were those who joined the party in the recent past, he accused Telangana BJP president G. Kishan Reddy of simply toeing the RSS line.
The leader also alleged that RSS activists also intimidated lower-level cadre, saying that they would not have future in the party if they supported the alliance with the TDP. The BJP district presidents were called here to make them say that they were against the alliance.
He said the RSS wanted the party to have a truck with TRS and the possibility of a tie-up was also explored.
“This kind of culture was never there,” he said and observed that it was ironical that an organisation which stresses on discipline wanted the BJP cadre to go against the line taken by the central party.
An RSS functionary, when contacted, denied the charge that the organisation interfered in selection of candidates or seats in the alliance with the TDP. He said the RSS acts within limits and interacts only on policy matters with the party.
“There is a committee in the party to select candidates. Will they select somebody just because the RSS has suggested?” he asked.
