With assembly polls in Maharashtra just a month away, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has launched an extensive outreach programme aimed at shaping public opinion in favour of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the state.
The elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly will take place on November 20 in a single phase.
According to PTI, RSS, which serves as the ideological backbone of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is coordinating with its affiliates for this initiative. “Tolis” or teams have been formed across the state to engage with the public in their localities.
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These teams are conducting small group meetings with 5-10 individuals and reaching out to families through local networks in their respective “mohallas.” According to a source, “In these meetings, they do not explicitly endorse the BJP but shape the people’s opinion through intimate discussions around topics of national interest, Hindutva, good governance, development, public welfare and various local issues concerning the society,” the source told PTI.
Prior to forming these teams, RSS officials and affiliates held coordination meetings at all levels in the state to devise a strategic plan. This effort is particularly significant in light of the BJP’s recent victory in Haryana, where similar outreach initiatives reportedly contributed to the party’s success.
In the Haryana assembly polls, the BJP achieved its best performance ever, winning 48 out of 90 seats and marking a hat-trick of victories in the state. Sources say that “drawing room meetings” held by RSS workers were crucial in shaping public opinion, as they addressed issues like the Congress government’s “Jat-centric policies” and engaged with farmers about the Agnipath recruitment scheme.
The RSS’s deep ties within communities, built on long-term relationships and trust, are seen as a significant advantage. However, some party members believe that a lack of enthusiasm among RSS workers contributed to the BJP’s disappointing performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
The active participation of RSS workers in the upcoming assembly polls has generated optimism among BJP members, with many hoping to replicate the successful strategy used in Haryana to achieve positive results in Maharashtra.
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Although the RSS claims it does not directly engage in electoral politics, it is widely viewed as a crucial force behind the BJP during elections. The stakes are high for the BJP and its allies in the Maharashtra assembly polls set for November 20, especially as the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition aims to reclaim power after their recent success in the Lok Sabha polls.
In the last parliamentary elections, the BJP’s seat count in Maharashtra dropped from 23 in 2019 to just nine, while its ally Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, won seven seats. Meanwhile, the Congress increased its tally from one to 13 seats, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena secured nine, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP won eight seats.