Modi’s Tribute to Mohan Bhagwat Signals BJP–RSS Alignment
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at Vigyan Bhawan on Thursday! (Image X.com)
By hailing the RSS chief as a transformative leader, Modi positions Mohan Bhagwat at the heart of India’s political narrative as the Sangh marks its centenary and the BJP readies for electoral battles.
By AMIT KUMAR
NEW DELHI, September 11, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s article on Mohan Bhagwat’s 75th birthday is more than just a tribute. It is a carefully timed political message—placing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief at the centre of India’s ideological and electoral narrative as the BJP heads into a volatile election season.
In his essay, Modi described Bhagwat as a “living example of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and credited him with steering the RSS through its “most transformative period.” The Prime Minister praised Bhagwat’s ability to balance continuity with adaptation—whether reforming RSS training camps, mobilising swayamsevaks during the COVID-19 pandemic, or connecting with a younger generation through public discourse.
But the subtext is unmistakable. With the RSS marking its centenary this year—coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti and Vijaya Dashami—the BJP’s top leader is tightening the ideological embrace. Modi’s glowing words also appear aimed at consolidating the Sangh cadre base, critical for the BJP in Bihar’s upcoming elections and the 2026 general election cycle.
Political observers note that Modi rarely publishes long reflective pieces, and when he does, the timing matters. By recalling his personal ties to the Bhagwat family and stressing the RSS’s role as the “Akshayavat” (eternal banyan tree) of national culture, Modi is signalling continuity with the Sangh’s legacy while projecting Bhagwat as the custodian of its centennial moment.
The RSS, under Bhagwat, has often nudged the BJP on issues like social harmony and decentralisation, while also backing flagship campaigns like Swachh Bharat and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Modi’s tribute acknowledges this synergy but also subtly positions Bhagwat’s leadership as complementary to his own political project of a “New India.”
In a year when questions loom over the balance of power between the BJP’s electoral machine and the RSS’s ideological framework, Modi’s article may be read as both reassurance to the Sangh and a reminder that the “Parivar” remains united.
For the BJP, the message is clear: as India heads into new electoral battles, the RSS is not just in the background—it is part of the script.
(This is an opinion piece, and views expressed are those of the author only)
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