New Delhi: No fewer than seven states feature the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functioning without a full-term general secretary (organisation), a position taken by those that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) deputes. These states include Maharashtra, Kerala, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka. In the North-East, Arunachal Pradesh remains without a general secretary (organisation), or pracharak, as the position is informally referred to.
A general secretary (organisation) serves as the link between the party and the RSS, playing a crucial role in executing key policies, schemes and programmes of the party. Of these states, elections were held in Kerala, are scheduled in Goa next year, and 2028 in Karnataka.
That the position is important is undisputed. Look no further than the last general elections, when its absence in Rajasthan was widely seen as a major reason behind lack of coordination between the BJP and the RSS, vitally affecting the party’s election management. “Due to lack of coordination and in the absence of the leader, the entire unit seemed headless as even the state president was contesting elections during that time. These positions are not ornamental; those appointed serve as a guide too,” said a senior BJP leader.
Chandrashekhar, who held the post in Rajasthan, had been shifted to Telangana in January 2024 after the Assembly polls in Rajasthan.
According to sources, the BJP has been experiencing such vacant positions across states for some time now; the matter has come up at several RSS meetings too.
“While the position became vacant much recently in some states, others have been waiting for years now. The issue of RSS pracharaks not being sent to the BJP as has been done traditionally in the past has been raised with the Sangh, and we are confident that it will be resolved soon,” said a senior BJP leader.
Another senior BJP leader pointed out that the situation has not risen now but has been brewing for quite some time. “Buoyed by its 2019 win and subsequent victories in a number of key states, the BJP increasingly relied on its own cadre and systems at the grassroots level. At the same time, everyone is well-versed with the fact as to what happened before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls; the statement of then BJP president J.P. Nadda about being self-sufficient definitely created friction with the RSS,” said a senior party functionary.
“The pracharaks serve as the link persons between the BJP and the Sangh and their absence definitely affects the overall functioning of the party. Many decisions in some states could not be taken as the post was lying vacant,” the leader said.
Sources in the party said in many states, the current general secretaries are taking care of the work of general secretary (organisation) to ensure work doesn’t get affected.
More than a post
For instance, in February, the RSS transferred state organisational general secretary Hitanand Sharma from Madhya Pradesh back to the Sangh. Sharma, who served as the general secretary for several years in the state and is often credited with playing an instrumental role in the BJP’s state victory in 2023 as well as the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, was transferred as the head of the RSS’ Boudhik Prakosht (Intellectual Cell) regional office in Jabalpur.
“He was appointed feneral secretary (organisation) in 2022 and played a crucial role in strengthening the party, and we are hoping that a substitute will be announced soon for this crucial position,” said a senior BJP leader from the state.
According to BJP sources, it is the first time that the state unit in Madhya Pradesh is functioning without a general secretary (organisation) after Sharma’s return to the RSS.
Karnataka too has been without a full-time general secretary (organisation) for almost two years. G.V. Rajesh who was made the organisational general secretary in July 2022 was removed abruptly from his role in May 2024.
ThePrint had reported how the news of his abrupt removal gave credence to talks of then growing differences within the party and with its ideological parent. Rajesh had then attributed his stepping down from the post as part of the larger “organisational changes” within the party.
Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh (All India Communication Chief) of the RSS Sunil Ambekar told ThePrint: “You see, these are all organisational internal arrangements, and are based on availability and requirement because particular work requires particular skill-set, mindset. I think there are 32 organisations [affiliated to the BJP], and so many new ones are coming up. There is a gap in need and availability right now, so we are trying to address that.”
In a preface to the BJP’s constitutional amendment moved by former party president M. Venkaiah Naidu in 2006 and approved by the party’s mational council, the BJP described the post of General Secretary (Organisation) thus: “Among our General Secretaries there is a general secretary (organisation). A karyakarta (worker) possessing the capabilities of working as organising secretary is appointed to this position.”
“Normally, the organising secretary is a full-time party worker. He is expected to perform his duties within the parameters laid down. He is not required to have a mass base of his own, nor any specific area of activity or constituency. It is expected that he will not have any such specific areas of work because he is expected to devote his entire energies and time to the party organisation,” the preface said.
“The party’s ideology, its workers, its policies and programmes are, and should be, his only areas of activity. He is expected to be a standard-bearer of the larger domain of party ideology and be a link who works in conformity, coordination and communication with the rest of the party.”
When asked about the vacancies, the BJP sought to downplay the issue. “This is an internal matter of the party and it is a continuous exercise. Depending on who is required where, party workers are assigned responsibilities. As I said, it is a continuous process and it keeps on going,” said party national spokesperson R.P. Singh.
In Maharashtra also, the post has been vacant since 2021 when RSS appointee Vijay Puranik, given charge in 2018, stepped down. Sources said he was removed over friction with the Maharashtra BJP state leadership at that time.
Goa has been without a full-time organisational secretary (in-charge) for quite some time, and the situation has been the same in Arunachal Pradesh for over two years. “We have been getting guidance from the Centre so it is not impacting our work so much but having a dedicated general secretary (organisation) definitely helps,” said a legislator from Arunachal Pradesh.
A senior BJP leader pointed out that with BJP president Nitin Nabin’s new team set to be announced soon, these posts will also be filled. “We are just waiting for the announcement of the new team and accordingly, these positions will also be filled. Both the RSS and the BJP are on the same page. Sometimes these vacancies take time to fill and should not be made into an issue,” said the leader.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)
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