Kulkarni's exit mollifies Sangh

After reaching the brink of "taking action" against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief LK Advani, the Rashtriya Swaymsevak Sangh (RSS) today retreated, presumably mollified by Advani aide Sudheendra Kulkarni's resignation from the national executive and the post of national secretary.

On the second day of the Sangh's ongoing meeting in Surat, the organisation unbent enough to limit its criticism of Advani as a leader who was willing to "sacrifice" his juniors for mistakes he had made.

"By sacrificing his close personal aide, Advani wants to show he will not tolerate any public criticism of the Sangh and that his controversial remarks in Pakistan on Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Ayodhya demolition and Akhand Bharat were an aberration," a senior Sangh leader said.

Interpreting Kulkarni's resignation as a virtual apology for the attempted secularisation of the BJP, the Sangh brass appeared to be in favour of giving him time to set the BJP in order and facilitate smooth transfer of power by year-end.

"Any change of leadership at this juncture will only harm the nationalist movement. Moreover, if Advani is willing to pursue our agenda and restore primacy of ideology, there should be no problem," the leader said.

But it is unlikely that Kulkarni will stay out of the party for long. Advani supporters say he will be reinducted at the first opportunity the party chief gets.

This meeting is likely to lead to an uneasy truce between the RSS and the BJP that many feel is the fall out of a natural dynamic of losing political power while having a considerable parliamentary majority.

While the BJP is made up of career politicians, who are used to electoral victory and defeat and tend to take it in their stride, the Sangh, observers say, is concerned and insecure. Its coffers, which were once brimming with resources, have dwindled.

With attendance at RSS shakhas on the decline and the transfer-posting industry having dried up, BJP ruled states are the only sanctuaries of a set of people who manage electoral programmes but have no experience of actually participating in an election.

"Let us be realistic. We will make the BJP win but breaking it is not in our interest also," a senior functionary said.

During the deliberations in Surat, many pracharaks (provincial organisers) are understood to have talked about the "confusion" caused among the cadres by Advani's remarks and the need to put the record straight.

BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Sanjay Joshi is also expected to present his organisational report to the RSS leadership.

The next round of battle is expected to be joined either in Mumbai, during the silver jubilee celebrations of the BJP, or after the Bihar elections. Advani's supporters expect the NDA to win the Bihar Assembly elections with Nitish Kumar as chief minister.

If that happens, the NDA is likely to protect and strengthen itself against further attacks from the Sangh. Advani's position will also be vindicated.

In any case, it is not the Sangh but the BJP that will decide who its chief should be. Advani has a three-year tenure, which began only in October 2004. The VHP, which has been the most vociferous in demanding Advani's resignation, is not a member of the BJP.

"In the present circumstances, the RSS needs the BJP as much as the party needs the Sangh. Therefore, any threat to sever ties is impractical and at best can only serve to make the party fall in line," said a senior pracharak.

Advani is unlikely to quit until he's proved that his stewardship of the party has succeeded in its growth, not diminution. The Sangh might fall in line with this approach, at least for the next couple of months.