RSS Jodhpur meet from Sept 5: Will BJP see a new president as Sangh gears up for centenary?

The gathering will bring together national presidents and organising secretaries of 32 Sangh-inspired bodies

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its 32 affiliate organisations will gather in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district from September 5 to 7 for their annual Akhil Bharatiya Samanvay Baithak (national coordination meeting).

Senior functionaries, including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, six joint general secretaries, and members of the RSS national executive, will take part. According to RSS national publicity head Sunil Ambekar, the three-day event will review the work of Sangh-inspired organisations, deliberate on contemporary challenges, and chalk out plans for the organisation’s centenary year in 2025–26.

“This year’s meeting will also include collective critical analysis of recent important happenings, along with discussions on national unity, security, and social issues,” Ambekar said in a statement.

BJP leadership in focus

Amid speculation over the appointment of a new BJP president, the issue is expected to come up during the Jodhpur session. Sources told India Today that deliberations on the party’s top leadership transition may figure in the agenda.

Senior BJP leaders, including party president JP Nadda, organisation head BL Santosh, and other key figures such as Sunil Bansal, Shivprakash, Saudan Singh and V Satish, will be present at the meet.

A report by PTI noted that discussions may also touch on issues flagged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address, including the setting up of a high-powered demographic mission to tackle the challenges posed by illegal infiltration.

Who will attend?

The gathering will bring together national presidents and organising secretaries of 32 Sangh-inspired bodies, including:

BJP

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)

Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh

Bharatiya Kisan Sangh

Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP)

Vidya Bharati

Rashtra Sevika Samiti

Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram

Swadeshi Jagran Manch

Seva Samiti

Each affiliate will present its one-year report and outline future programmes.

Centenary year preparations on the agenda

The RSS, founded in 1925, will complete 100 years in 2025. Planning for centenary year celebrations will be a key theme of the Jodhpur meeting.

According to Ambekar, organisations will present ideas on how to participate in Sangh centenary programmes, and necessary steps will be taken to improve coordination among affiliates.

“The meeting will discuss how all organisations can play a role in making the Sangh centenary events impactful and nationally relevant,” Ambekar said.

Tight calendar for Mohan Bhagwat

Ahead of the Jodhpur gathering, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to be in Delhi on August 26 and 28 at Vigyan Bhavan, where he will interact with prominent personalities from various fields. On August 28, he will answer written questions collected during the two-day event.

A similar outreach programme was held by the RSS at the same venue in September 2018.