Two of the gang of four – Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi have spent their lifetime as swayamsewaks. They know the value of discipline and also the price they have to pay for crossing the RSS line. May be the same is true about the third Shanta Kumar, as for the fourth – Yashwant Sinha, he surely is no dyed in the wool knickerwallah. He came to politics after serving as an IAS officer. But we can say that during his years in the BJP, he has also imbibed the culture of discipline so highly valued in the parivar. It is the core of a swayamsewak that he simply follows orders. He does not challenge the wisdom of the Sangh bosses, and his personal opinion simply does not exist.
But such is the power of democracy that it can energise even the ageing. The Bihar verdict, so massive in its size, had the electrifying effect of prompting a revolt from a ”gang of four” elderly swayamsewaks. There can be no better indicator of the failure of the RSS system. The revolt of the elderly proved that a lifetime of adherence to the shakha principles does not insulate even the elderly and weak from the temptations of democracy. Surely, it is time to say – Bravo Bihar.
The revolt from the gang of four, howsoever feeble, and ultimately futile has showcased the intrinsic secular power of the Indian society and the basic vulnerability of the strait jacketed RSS ethos. If there was any confusion in the minds of people anywhere across the globe that India was in the danger of slipping into the dangers of the twisted Hindutva ideology, it has been set to rest. India is secular, and not only because Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru decided that it had to be so. But primarily because the Hindus of India reject the ”cow” version of their religion. That they have done so decisively, in the closing month of Panditji”s 125th birth anniversary celebrations would surely have gladdened his heart. Bihar has also dealt a decisive blow to those celebrating India”s descent into a nation mirroring its neighbouring partner Pakistan. The joy over the likely emergence of a Hindu India as a mirror image of Muslim Pakistan was far too premature. Though one must be quick to admit that the fear of this happening was pretty real. The revolt by the writers and the artists was an expression of this genuine fear. Moreover, the tone and tenor of BJP’s entire Bihar campaign was accentuating this fear, and hence the defeat of these forces is also more reassuring.
However, the question of revolt by the elders is far too deeper and the BJP-RSS do not have the option of merely dismissing it as the voice of the disgruntled and marginalized. Most of the four elders have been the early champions of the approach that failed in Bihar, and if they have protested at the defeat, it is also because they are observing the failure of the cause for which they devoted their lives. True, the motives of these four elderly gentlemen would not be completely altruistic as they have been left out of the power circle and have reasons of their own to be discontented with the present regime. But the point is that when the cricketers retire after playing their innings, they do not become dissenters against the BCCI. On the contrary, they are useful spokespersons for the BCCI and usually help its cause. So, in this need of the hour, so to say when the BJP leadership has been routed, and is in need of moral support the elders should have been providing the friendly shoulders to lean on. But if they too have chosen to attack the leadership and have talked about the ”emasculation” of the party, then there is surely a lot to worry.
As the elected ruling party of the country for the remaining three and half years of its five year term, the BJP has the responsibility to provide a firm strong and purposeful government in the national interest. The nation cannot simply afford a government that gets debilitated by the electoral defeats of the ruling party and a leadership that has to answer searching questions not only from the opposition but from its own mentors. Such a government at home would never be rescued by the most impressive shows of strength and popularity abroad. The Bihar outcome has thus forced a relook for the ruling BJP leadership at its internal working and power sharing arrangement. This is precisely the political demand of the gang of four, and it vigorously restates the principle that in a democracy you cannot govern a country of the size of India by shutting out people and voices that may be disagreeable to you.
So, the manner in which the Modi-Shah duo handles this elderly revolt and the party”s overall response to the defeat in Bihar would be telling us quite a lot about the future direction the ruling party would take in the coming months. It has serious political issues to tackle in different election bound states like Assam and Punjab, before it comes to the ultimate semi-final for the 2019 polls – that is the Uttar Pradesh contest. But above all, the promise of reviving the economy and creating jobs for the crores of people as promised during the campaign remains the most important litmus test for Modi Sarkar.
It stands to reason that as a campaigner Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be forced to resort to a divisive agenda, if his track record in governance could see him through the battle of ballots. In this respect, even his strongest supporters are deserting him, and at such a time, no one would expect the opposition to make it easy for him. The Bihar effect would thus manifest itself in different ways, and there are no easy options for the Modi-Shah duo now. There aren”t any scapegoats available as well.
