Wikileaks has revealed how the US embassy in India noted that the BJP was facing crises of political ideology and personal enmity as RSS exerted its influence on India’s principal opposition party.
New Delhi: The latest WikiLeaks cache of secret US cables contains a labyrinth of information on a leadership tussle in the BJP and the RSS's stifling control over the party.
From L.K. Advani's controversial comments on Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah's "secular" credentials that cost him his job to successor Rajnath Singh, to dropping PM-contender Narendra Modi from the party's crucial parliamentary board, the US charge d' affairs and other officials cited several instances of intraparty feuds from 2005 to 2007.
The US cables use the hounding of Advani after his Pakistan sojourn as an instance of the RSS's ideological control over the BJP.
Advani announced his resignation as BJP president in the party's national executive in Chennai in September 2005, and Rajnath took over the party's reigns on January 1, 2006, with the RSS's blessings.
The episode is well-documented along with several instances of how Advani's own protégés in the BJP's GenNext deserted him in the aftermath of his comments on Jinnah.
"There are several key events that will in the coming months provide indicators as to where the BJP is headed. One is the BJP leadership conference now scheduled for September 16-18 in Chennai. Media and political observers are predicting that swords could be drawn at the meeting. The Sangh Parivar could use this venue to make its move to unseat Advani," a cable said.
The cables suggested that while the BJP infighting was ideological, it was also a succession struggle between personalities.
"The RSS and VHP have clear preferences regarding who should replace A.B. Vajpayee and Advani. Modi is the favourite of both groups to replace Vajpayee and become the party's candidate for PM, while the VHP supports former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti, or Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia to replace Advani. The RSS purportedly favours BJP national executive member Sushma Swaraj for party president, but the VHP is not enthusiastic," another cable added.
Despite or perhaps because of his reputation as an international pariah, Modi has emerged for now as the figurehead for the Sangh Parivar. The cables list the pros and cons of Modi's takeover of the BJP.
"The Sangh seems determined to make Modi the BJP leader and candidate for PM. While increasingly popular within segments of the party, he remains unpopular in India and divisive in his home state. His selection would unite India's 'secular' opposition against the BJP, leading to increasing isolation, electoral defeat and marginalisation. A party with Modi in charge would also be more anti-American and less cooperative with the US. BJP leaders tell us that Modi 'will never forgive the US' for his treatment," a cable sent by then US charge Robert Blake said.
Another cable said the "Hindu nationalist RSS" and its Sangh Parivar allies had scored a major political victory by intimidating Advani and the second-tier BJP leadership.
"The right-wing RSS asserted its political dominance of the BJP on July 8, calling for the removal of Advani from his party leadership positions, including the presidency and head of the parliamentary delegation. Pundits expect the move to succeed, resulting in greater RSS control of the BJP and a shift towards an even more radical Hindutva agenda," the cable added.
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