Tough times ahead for non-RSS workers in BJP

'Lateral entrants', a term coined for non-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh workers, are in for tough days ahead in the Bharatiya Janata Party. 

In the wake of recent wrangling in the BJP, followed by the exit of senior leaders like Jaswant Singh and L K  Advani's aide Sudheendra Kulkarni, the party has decided to clip the feathers of 'lateral' entrants. It literally implies that the members, who are non-swayamsevaks, will no more be able to enjoy the power and clout they used to in the recent past.

A senior leader, seeking anonymity, said, "The BJP has decided that the next BJP president will be a swayamsevak and will not be a 'lateral entry'. 

This will further strengthen the chances of hardcore RSS workers -- Arun Jaitley, Bal Apte and Narendra Modi -- being appointed as the new bosses of the organisation and put to rest speculations about Sushma Swaraj becoming the new president of the party after Rajnath Singh's three-year term ends.

According to a top BJP source, the cadres of the party are deeply pained by the recent statements made by Jaswant Singh and Advani's aide Sudheendra Kulkarni, who left the party citing that he had fundamental differences with the BJP's ideology.

The party believes that cadres across the country are deeply anguished by the conduct of 'lateral' entrants who enjoyed enormous power and were aspirants of holding top jobs if the party had won. But they defected after the BJP lost in the Lok Sabha elections.

According to sources, although the party will downsize the clout of non-swayamsevaks in party affairs, it will not bar their entry into the party.

Source revealed that the BJP would welcome 'lateral entrants' into the party in the future on the basis of their professional ability and capacity. 

It is learnt that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, in his recent meetings with the BJP leadership, had suggested that they should trim the role of lateral entrants in the BJP and promote swayamsevaks in the party.

Taking a dig at the so called intellectuals, who form the major chunk of 'lateral entrants' in the party, top source also said, "We have competent cadres who can speak good English and also write a book."

Admitting that the generational change in the party is imminent, party sources also indicated that L K Advani will continue to guide the party with his experience and moral authority, even after he steps down as the leader of the Opposition.

Image: RSS cadre attend a convention in Kolkata | Photograph: Reuters