The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has once again demonstrated its pivotal role in shaping the BJP's electoral fortunes. The Maharashtra Assembly election results, which gave a decisive mandate to the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, underscore the strategic influence of the RSS in galvanising support at the grassroots level.
The BJP-led coalition secured over 230 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, leaving the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi with just 50 seats. The RSS, serving as the ideological foundation of the BJP, played a crucial role through an extensive outreach campaign ahead of the elections.
As part of its coordinated efforts with various affiliates, the RSS formed small teams of volunteers, or "tolis," to connect with voters across the state.
These teams conducted localised interactions, engaging with families and holding small meetings in neighbourhoods to discuss issues of national interest, Hindutva, development, and governance. While the RSS did not explicitly campaign for the BJP, its messaging indirectly strengthened the alliance's position in the state.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis acknowledged the Sangh’s contribution, describing its involvement as instrumental in countering challenges posed by "anarchists and vote jihadists."
Fadnavis had sought the RSS’s assistance following setbacks in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year, which had raised concerns about the BJP's performance in Maharashtra.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also credited the RSS and other voluntary organisations for their dedication during the elections. He congratulated the people of Maharashtra for the alliance's resounding victory and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the state’s progress and development.
The success of the RSS outreach strategy is not unique to Maharashtra. Similar initiatives played a crucial role in the BJP's triumph in Haryana during the recent state assembly elections.
In that state, the Sangh’s teams conducted over 1.25 lakh small group meetings, fostering discussions and mobilising public opinion in favour of the BJP. The strategy helped the party secure a record 48 seats in the 90-member Haryana Assembly, bucking anti-incumbency trends and halting the Congress’s resurgence.
However, the importance of maintaining the RSS’s enthusiasm has been a lesson for the BJP. During the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, a perceived lack of engagement from the RSS was seen as a factor in the BJP's relatively underwhelming performance.
Reports suggest that remarks by BJP president JP Nadda, suggesting the party’s capability to operate independently of the RSS, had initially dampened morale among Sangh workers.
Follow us
