Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Amit Shah meets RSS chief, seeks poll support

SIGNIFICAN­T Bhagwat tells BJP chief to ensure party’s clean image, says it must fend for itself without proactive RSS help

- Pradip Kumar Maitra

NAGPUR: Newly-appointed BJP president Amit Shah met RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat on Friday and discussed organsisat­ional matters, ahead of assembly polls in five states, including Maharashtr­a and Haryana.

Political observers viewed the meeting closely as Shah’s elevation to the party’s top post had not gone down well with the RSS and Bhagwat.

Shah, who refused to talk to the journalist­s, had an hour-long oneto-one meeting with Bhagwat.

According to RSS insiders, the chief is believed to have candidly told Shah that the party should not indulge in any unethical practices while forming the government in Delhi and should go for a fresh mandate. Shah requested the RSS for its active support in the ensuing state elections just the way it did during the Lok Sabha polls.

Bhagwat allegedly told Shah that the party must fend for itself without a proactive support from the RSS.

However, he assured Shah that RSS workers would continue to support the saffron party as always but not as proactivel­y as in the parliament­ary elections.

The RSS sources also said that Bhagwat allegedly asked Shah to ensure the promises made in the manifesto are fulfilled — to build a Ram temple at Ayodhya and garner consensus for a common civil code, among other things.

The RSS wants the government to be on a firm footing first and take up these issues in a phased manner.

Earlier, Shah went to the RSS’ Reshmibagh office where he paid tribute at the Hedgewar memorial.

 ?? SUNNY SHENDE/HT ?? Shah visited the statue of Dr. Ambedkar during the trip.
SUNNY SHENDE/HT Shah visited the statue of Dr. Ambedkar during the trip.

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