New Delhi: Senior leaders of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Ram Madhav and Shiv Prakash on Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Both the leaders were spokespersons for the RSS. Ram Madhav announced in the evening that he has been deputed to BJP.
The two RSS leaders are likely to find a prominent place in reorganized BJP that is also expected to see a new President as incumbent Rajnath Singh may relinquish his charge of the party after becoming Union Home Minister.
Madhav said he would “join BJP” and is looking forward to a new role in the party. The Sangh, the ideological mentor of BJP, had earlier too deputed many of its leaders from time to time, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had been a full-time RSS ‘pracharak’ (organiser), in the party.
The decision was made in the RSS meeting which is being held near Dhar in Madhya Pradesh. Executive Council discussed transfers, postings and deputation of the Sangh workers. It is the highest decision making body of the Sangh.
Sources say Ram Madhav is likely to be one of the new BJP general secretaries in the party-set up proposed to be reorganized after government formation as several party leaders have joined the ministerial council of Modi.
Party general secretary Amit Shah is said to be leading the race for the post of BJP President. The party seeks to revamp itself ahead of assembly elections due in states like Maharashtra, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand later this year and early next year.
However, this is not new for the RSS as in the past many of its senior leaders had been deputed to the BJP.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that there is no difference between BJP and RSS. “Everyone Knows RSS controls BJP. RSS is the mother organization which takes the decisions,” he said.
Among many other BJP leaders who were earlier part of the Sangh are general secretaries Murlidhar Rao and Ram Lal.