PM Modi's Trip dispels saffron rift buzz ahead of key polls

NAGPUR: PM Modi's visit to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar's memorial at Smruti Mandir in Nagpur's Reshimbagh reaffirmed Sunday unity between BJP and its ideological fountainhead, while also suggesting consensus-building over the party's next president. This also marked Modi's first visit to Smruti Mandir in a decade since assuming office in 2014.
His meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat dispelled speculation of a rift between the two entities as BJP prepares for assembly polls in Bihar and Bengal.
The visit coincided with the RSS's 'pratipada' programme, commemorating Gudi Padwa and the Hindu New Year. Modi and Bhagwat's interaction, their first public engagement since the consecration of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya in Jan 2024, drew scrutiny for its potential impact on the selection of BJP's next national president.
The question of BJP's next president has garnered attention as the party's current chief JP Nadda has been serving an extended term since joining the Union cabinet in June 2024. With BJP's national council scheduled to convene in Bengaluru in April, discussions in Nagpur may shape the trajectory. RSS has historically played a crucial role in this process and Modi's visit highlighted its continued influence.

He paid homage to RSS founder Hedgewar and the organisation's second sarsanghchalak Madhav Golwalkar. In a post on X, the PM described his visit as deeply personal & inspiring. "Visiting Smruti Mandir on 'varsha pratipada' is special, as it is also the 'jayanti' of param pujya doctor sahab (Hedgewar). Countless people like me draw strength from the vision of doctor sahab and Guruji," Modi wrote.
Adding another dimension to his Nagpur visit, Modi also stopped at Deekshabhoomi, the site where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in 1956. Calling the shrine a symbol of social justice and empowerment, the PM reiterated his govt's commitment to Ambedkar's vision for India. "Deekshabhoomi stands as a beacon of dignity and equality. Generations of Indians remain indebted to Dr Ambedkar for giving us a Constitution that safeguards our rights," he wrote on X.
PM's visit to the RSS headquarters reaffirmed the party's ideological alignment with the Sangh. His stop at Deekshabhoomi also conveyed a message of inclusivity to marginalised communities.