Decision-making body of RSS to meet in Bengaluru

The Akhila Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), the highest decision-making body of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s ideological parent, will hold its 2-day meeting at Channenahalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru on Friday and Saturday.

A new Sarkaryavah (general secretary) will be elected during the meeting. It remains to be seen if incumbent Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi will get another term or if Sah Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale, who hails from Karnataka, will be picked as per speculation.

The ABPS will also chalk out an action plan for the next three years, RSS’ national media cell chief Arun Kumar told reporters. “Our expansion plan is mainly geographical,” he said. “We should reach every family in every village. There are 60,000 mandals (each with 7-8 villages) and 60,000 colonies in urban areas with a population of 10,000. After reaching these mandals and colonies, we want to reach sub-colonies,” he explained.

In all, Kumar said there were 1.2 lakh mandals and colonies of which the RSS had reached about 60,000-65,000.

The ABPS was to be held in Bengaluru last year, but it was called off due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “Usually we expect 1,500 people to attend. This time, we will have only 450 attendees,” Kumar said. “Also, it’ll be a 2-day meeting instead of three days.”

The ABPS will also pass resolutions during its meeting. Asked if the contentious farm Bills will be discussed, Kumar said: “There will be a discussion on contemporary
issues.”