05-25-2009, 07:44 PM
xpost
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http://www.telegraphindia.com/section/fr.../index.jsp
The Telegraph
<b>RSS defends Modi, blames campaign</b>
SANJAY K. JHA
New Delhi, May 23: The RSS has diagnosed bad campaigning, not Narendra Modi or Varun Gandhi, as the cause of the BJPâs poor poll show and recommended that the only cure is re-affirmation of its ideological purity.
In the latest issue of its mouthpiece Organiser, the RSS has interpreted the verdict as the peopleâs rejection of smaller parties (third front) and a vote for the âevolution of a national polity.â <b>Some essays have subtly suggested that the BJP move out of its coalition mindset and expand its own base.</b>
âThe silver lining in this electoral outcome is the unmistakable play of the national psyche and the emergence of a clear two-party system,â the editorial has said.
â<b>There is no evidence to show that the ideology of the party has failed.</b> There is also no evidence that the Modi campaign or the Varun Gandhi speech damaged its prospects. <b>The BJP actually failed in presenting itself as a better alternative offering stability and a national vision.</b> This has more to do with a mismanaged campaign and organisational weaknesses.â
The campaign was managed by the BJPâs most celebrated strategist Arun Jaitley, hailed as a rainmaker after victories in state elections.
But the RSS appears to have made a direct attack on his style of functioning. â<b>Over-dependence on hi-tech and affluence more than grassroots-level management damaged the party. Politics is played out in the field, not in air-conditioned chat rooms</b>.â
The RSS has also hit out at the BJPâs self-defeating obsession with media endorsement, saying âthis was one of the reasons for the party losing in urban constituenciesâ.
After the 2004 defeat, too, the RSS and a large section of the BJP had slammed hi-tech campaigning and media obsession. The campaign in-charge then was the late Pramod Mahajan, who had apologised for the defeat.
But a more hi-tech campaign was launched this time through Advaniâs website and sleek TV jingles. Nor did BJP strategists forget to shower pity on the Congressâs poor show on this front.
<b>The RSS also does not share the dilemma of senior BJP leaders on Hindutva politics. It has indicated that any attempt to dilute ideology would be crushed with brute force. â...it has to shut its doors on all those who want to reshape it as a Congress B-team,â </b>the editorial has said.
..
http://www.telegraphindia.com/section/fr.../index.jsp
The Telegraph
<b>RSS defends Modi, blames campaign</b>
SANJAY K. JHA
New Delhi, May 23: The RSS has diagnosed bad campaigning, not Narendra Modi or Varun Gandhi, as the cause of the BJPâs poor poll show and recommended that the only cure is re-affirmation of its ideological purity.
In the latest issue of its mouthpiece Organiser, the RSS has interpreted the verdict as the peopleâs rejection of smaller parties (third front) and a vote for the âevolution of a national polity.â <b>Some essays have subtly suggested that the BJP move out of its coalition mindset and expand its own base.</b>
âThe silver lining in this electoral outcome is the unmistakable play of the national psyche and the emergence of a clear two-party system,â the editorial has said.
â<b>There is no evidence to show that the ideology of the party has failed.</b> There is also no evidence that the Modi campaign or the Varun Gandhi speech damaged its prospects. <b>The BJP actually failed in presenting itself as a better alternative offering stability and a national vision.</b> This has more to do with a mismanaged campaign and organisational weaknesses.â
The campaign was managed by the BJPâs most celebrated strategist Arun Jaitley, hailed as a rainmaker after victories in state elections.
But the RSS appears to have made a direct attack on his style of functioning. â<b>Over-dependence on hi-tech and affluence more than grassroots-level management damaged the party. Politics is played out in the field, not in air-conditioned chat rooms</b>.â
The RSS has also hit out at the BJPâs self-defeating obsession with media endorsement, saying âthis was one of the reasons for the party losing in urban constituenciesâ.
After the 2004 defeat, too, the RSS and a large section of the BJP had slammed hi-tech campaigning and media obsession. The campaign in-charge then was the late Pramod Mahajan, who had apologised for the defeat.
But a more hi-tech campaign was launched this time through Advaniâs website and sleek TV jingles. Nor did BJP strategists forget to shower pity on the Congressâs poor show on this front.
<b>The RSS also does not share the dilemma of senior BJP leaders on Hindutva politics. It has indicated that any attempt to dilute ideology would be crushed with brute force. â...it has to shut its doors on all those who want to reshape it as a Congress B-team,â </b>the editorial has said.