Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is planning to celebrate the 300th birth anniversary of Maratha Malwa ruler Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar. She belonged to the Dhangar community, which is classified as Other Backward Class in Maharashtra.
Considering that BJP-led NDA’s performance in the recent Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra was very poor, RSS plan assumes significance as the state is scheduled to go to the assembly polls in October-November.
To win elections in Maharashtra, BJP has relied on its MADHAV (social engineering of OBCs) formula, an acronym for Mali, Dhangar and Vanjare. However, in the aftermath of poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls and the apparent Maratha anger over quota, BJP and RSS are trying to rework their time-tested model.
When asked about BJP chief JP Nadda’s reported remarks that the saffron party doesn’t need RSS, RSS publicity head Sunil Ambekar said the Sangh doesn’t involve itself directly in electioneering but works for building public opinion and awareness and the Sangh did the same this time too.
Ambekar was addressing a press conference on the conclusion of three-day meeting of ‘prant pracharaks’ in Ranchi. He said that youths in large numbers are getting “attracted to RSS ideology” and becoming a part of it every year.
Replying to a question, Ambekar said RSS workers also suffered a lot during the Emergency. He added that “such things should not happen in a democracy”.
