Has the BJP-RSS war reached a decisive stage where the Union Home Minister Amit Shah has proved his grip over the party?
How long will he be able to stop the Hindutva outfit after staging a coup in the selection of Delhi’s Chief Minister?
Analysts believe, Amit Shah, or the “mota bhai” (elder brother) as he is lovingly called, has upturned the RSS apple cart by stopping its old-time “swayamsevak” Vijender Gupta from becoming the Delhi Chief Minister.
Rekha Gupta is supposed to be a close confidante of the Union Home Minister.
Has Amit Shah Contained RSS’ Influence?
It is believed that by imposing his own choice at the helm of the affairs of Delhi, Amit Shah has succeeded in containing the influence of the RSS, which has eyed to capture the national capital for a long time.
Analysts believe this is proof of the growing political clout and significance of the Union Home Minister within the “sangh pariwar” as Hindutva organisations are collectively called.
If media reports are to be believed, the former Leader of the Opposition in Delhi was the natural choice of the RSS for the office of the Chief Minister as he has been its cadre or swayamsevak since his childhood days.
Who Was RSS’s Choice?
After attending the “shakhas” in his school days, Vijender Gupta launched his political career with Janta Vidyarthi Morcha, the student wing of Janta Party, the organisation Jan Sangh formed with other parties to outs Congress in the General Elections of 1977.
Vijender Gupta joined the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad in Shri Ram College of Commerce and became Vice President of the Delhi University Students Union as a the candidate of the student wing of the RSS.
Vijender Gupta: Trusted RSS ‘Swayamsevak’
After being elected Councillor for Delhi Municipal Corporation in 1997, he was appointed Chairman of the Law & General Purpose Committee, and Deputy Chairman of High Powered House Tax Committee in 2001.
After being elevated to Secretary of BJP Delhi in 2002, Vijender Gupta contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election from the Chandni Chowk constituency against Kapil Sibal of the Congress but lost. He was nominated BJP Delhi president in May 2010.
He fought the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election from New Delhi against Arvind Kejriwal but lost.
Caste Equation Favours Vijender Gupta
In Delhi state elections 2015, Vijender Gupta contested again from Rohini and won. He was one of the three BJP candidates to pull a win. Gupta was appointed the leader of opposition (LoP) in the Delhi assembly in April 2015.
Besides being a loyal “swayamsevak” of the RSS, Vijedner Gupta belongs to the Baniya community. He also has considerable experience in serving the Delhi Municipal Corporation.
Did RSS Win Delhi Election For BJP?
Buoyed by its success in Haryana and Maharashtra, the RSS swung into action much before Congress or the AAP could chalk out their plans.
The Hindutva outfit deployed 100 of its hardcore cadres who fanned across the national capital and held public meetings in all constituencies.
Its “swayamsevaks” held more than 50,000 drawing room meetings. Besides, organisations of small business owners and of shopkeepers are associated with the RSS.
However, Amit Shah dug his feet and succeeded in containing the influence of the RSS in the national capital.
Days earlier, he got his own man appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner, though the matter was sub-judice and the Supreme Court was scheduled to start hearing of Congress petition, challenging the law.
A Kerala cadre IAS officer of the 1988 batch, Gyanesh Kumar retired on January 31, 2024, as Union Cooperation Secretary. He served as the Chief Secretary under the ministry headed by Amit Shah till May 2022, before being appointed as an Election Commissioner.
