RSS helped the BJP win the historic Haryana Assembly Election
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reached a significant achievement by securing a third consecutive term in Haryana, largely credited to the efforts of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). This victory comes after a challenging period for the BJP, during which it lost five Lok Sabha seats and faced declining voter support.
The BJP’s popularity had taken a hit during the 2020-2021 farmers’ protests, causing discontent among grassroots workers and local leaders. An internal survey by the RSS in August indicated that the Haryana government, led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, was losing its appeal. This triggered a need for a change in leadership and strategy. To rebuild trust among rural voters and revitalize its grassroots efforts, the BJP sought assistance from the RSS.
A key meeting on July 29 in New Delhi included top leaders like RSS joint general secretary Arun Kumar, Haryana BJP Chief Mohanlal Bardoli, and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. They discussed ways to re-energize the party’s engagement at the grassroots level.
Decisions were made to improve candidate selection, strengthen ties with rural voters, and ensure better coordination between party workers and candidates. By early September, the RSS launched a rural outreach program, deploying over 150 volunteers to each district. The goal was to connect with rural communities and address the rising anti-incumbency sentiment.
The program focused on mobilizing local party leaders and workers, aiming to shift negative perceptions and garner support for the BJP. Political commentator Rajat Sethi, during an interview with India Today TV, remarked that personal, humble appeals to voters were a key strategy, with RSS volunteers conducting door-to-door meetings and spreading the party’s message.
Additionally, the RSS advised the BJP to field candidates with strong grassroots support, even from rival parties, to engage disillusioned voters. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was also encouraged to increase his visibility in rural areas, particularly in his Ladwa constituency, where he faced backlash. Saini met with khap and panchayat leaders who were dissatisfied with Khattar’s administration, and efforts were made to address the concerns of local MLAs about Khattar’s unavailability.
The RSS played a crucial role in bridging the communication gap between the party and its base. Volunteers worked closely with local leaders to ensure effective voter outreach, conducting a series of meetings between September 1 and 9 to reinforce party unity.
Senior RSS officials recognized that dissatisfaction among both the public and party workers had contributed to the BJP’s earlier electoral struggles. Their intervention was seen as essential in restoring confidence in the party’s governance.
Although the RSS had remained uninvolved during the Lok Sabha campaign, its role in the Assembly elections was pivotal. Rather than explicitly endorsing the BJP, RSS activists emphasized the importance of a stable government for national progress. Analysts suggest that without the RSS’s intervention, the BJP would have faced difficulties in securing its third term. Their efforts helped unify the party and ease tensions between Jats and Dalits, which were crucial for maintaining voter support.
This collaboration between the RSS and BJP is widely viewed as a key factor in the party’s electoral success, highlighting the importance of grassroots engagement and strategic coordination moving forward.