Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 17

In the election year where the ruling BJP finds itself woefully short of popular issues, all eyes are on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Vijayadashmi speech on Thursday.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi had fought the 2014 elections on the promise of “achche din”, in the current scenario with high fuel prices and rising unemployment figures, he can hardly reclaim the promise. Demonetisation is a step the BJP would like the public to forget and if low inflation figure due to low food prices was being considered good news for the government, experts say otherwise. Subdued inflation numbers can lead to Budget problems, they say.

It is in such a scenario that Bhagwat will make the speech and touch upon issues that will send an important message to saffron cadres. While essence of his speeches is claimed to be essentially social, their underlying political nuances are hard to miss. “It could be construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, urban naxalism or hyper activism of Supreme Court, especially related to Hindu festivals and temples like Sabarimala,” say RSS functionaries.

Bhagwat is also trying to project a moderate image for the right-wing Hindu organisation. For the Vijayadashmi function, which also marks foundation day of the Sangh, classical singer Ustad Rashid Khan has been invited as a special guest.