Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat has categorically denied that he or anyone in the organisation persuaded L.K. Advani to change his mind on not accepting the position of Leader of the Opposition after the Lok Sabha election debacle.
While strongly recommending a “generational change” in the BJP, he hinted that a new party president, when Rajnath Singh’s tenure ends in January 2010, would not necessarily be from among the four being mentioned — Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, M. Venkaiah Naidu and Narendra Modi. If the party were to “look beyond these names” it would see many persons who did not lack ability.
Mr. Advani at first offered to resign from that position and later decided not to resign.
In an interview to a television channel that was telecast on Tuesday, the RSS chief categorically stated that no RSS leader persuaded Mr. Advani not to resign. “Both decisions,” to resign and then not to resign, were “his own,” he said.
In what was being seen as a “clear signal” from the RSS boss that it was time for the older generation of BJP leaders to give way to younger leadership, Mr. Bhagwat emphasised that while it would be for the BJP to decide its own course of action, there was a “universal rule that the younger generation must replace [the older generation], but when and where this is what they [the BJP leaders] have to decide.”
Referring to what his predecessor had said, Mr. Bhagwat pointed out that the RSS had been recommending a generational change in the BJP since 2003. While pointing out that he was “not in politics,” he added that at the senior level the age of leadership should be 55 to 60.
In the party, some leaders see Mr. Bhagwat’s interview as a direct response to the recent assertion by Mr. Advani that he would continue to be the Leader of Opposition for the next five years, that is, up to the next general election in 2014.
Mr. Bhagwat made several significant points. While repeatedly emphasising it was for the BJP to take its own decisions, he pointed out that several party leaders were also “our swayamsevaks … who belong to us.” And he said the RSS had the right to talk to them, even direct them. As for the BJP choosing to disregard the wishes of the RSS, Mr. Bhagwat made it clear that it had not happened “up to now” and he did not see this happening in the future, because besides the swayamsevaks, who “belong” to the RSS, his organisation had good relations with non-RSS BJP leaders.
On the impending change of BJP president, he suggested that the party look beyond the four names being mentioned.
Asked directly who he would like to see as the next BJP president, Mr. Bhagwat said it depended on the BJP, which “should look beyond these four.” He did not think they would lack able persons.
