BJP captive to media: RSS

In a significant message, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) mouthpiece Organiser made a direct attack on BJP president LK Advani and suspended party leader Uma Bharti, advising leaders of the saffron party to shun their personal egos and stop talking to the cadre through the media.

In a hard-hitting front page editorial, it said, "It is not clear why the BJP had to hold its first newly constituted office-bearers' meeting in full media glare.

"Reality TV has its limits and a consequence... but for the full blast televising of the remarks at the office-bearers meet, the events that led to former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti's expulsion from the party could have been different."

Accusing the BJP leadership of acting on the advice given by the media, the editorial questioned the decision making process in the party.

"There are people like us who used to believe that we can imagine the way the BJP would decide its course. Not any longer. Of late, the media has begun to play a major role in BJP affairs. Leaders decide their attitudes on advice from mediapersons. It is one thing to be media savvy, another to be captivated by the media," it said.

In an apparent dig at Bharti, it said, "Success also is a disease. It makes many victims of their own image. Over a time, leaders get so used to this image about themselves that they refuse to see other images or hear other voices. It is sad that great parties fall prey to media shenanigans.In a party like bjp, personal ego should give way to national ego, common good."

The editorial is significant as Uma Bharti is considered close to the RSS apparatchik as well as the fact that Advani has been trying to build bridges with the RSS which had moved away during the NDA rule. The apportioning of blame to both parties is seen as a message to the BJP leaders.