Has the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) started its preparations for the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026?
Though the elections are likely to be held in April, 2026, the RSS seems to begin the preparations with its “Sarsanghchalak” (chief) Mohan Bhagwat camping in the state for 10 days.
After visiting various places from February 7 to February 16, he addressed a public rally at Talit in Burdhman district, to the disappointment of the TMC government.
After Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government refused to grant permission for the rally on the ground that it would disturb those who are taking the class 10th board examination, Calcutta High Court allowed it with the condition that the rally would not disturb the examinees.
Making the strategy of “catching them young” clear, the RSS chief emphasised to attract those between 14 years and 20 years of age. He met RSS kandha (block) leaders, who organise “shakhas” twice daily.
It has also made thrust at the Gram Panchayat and ward level so that the organisation could reach out to a vast number of people.
The Hindutva outfit boasts of 6,000 “shakhas” daily twice across the state, which is proud of its secular credentials.
Though Bhagwat claimed at the Talit rally that India had always respected and embraced divergent views and pluralism, analysts believe, he meant just the opposite to what he said.
He claimed, “‘Indian civilisation is ancient and accepts the plurality in the world. Every community has its own character. Hindus know it and accept that.”
However, the RSS chief soon reverted to the old Sangh positionas as he said, “The culture created our identity as ‘Hindus’’. ‘Hindu’ is not people from a particular community or religion.
Referring to the partition of the country, Bhagwat said, “Those who felt they couldn’t remain within this harmonious society, made their own country. Those who didn’t leave the country accepted that nature of Indian society.”
With this background, it is clear that the RSS may focus on the West Bengal Elections.
Buoyed on its success in the assembly elections of Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi, the RSS may swoop down upon West Bengal as well.
It was the Hindutva outfit that deployed its ‘swayamsevaks and used the network of the organisation associated with it. Besides the RSS workers, members and sympathisers of the associated organisations fanned across Delhi constituencies and reached out to voters.
The RSS may adopt this strategy in West Bengal also.
Has the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) started its preparations for the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026?
Though the elections are likely to be held in April 2026, the RSS seems to begin the preparations with its “Sarsanghchalak” (chief) Mohan Bhagwat camping in the state for 10 days.
After visiting various places from February 7 to February 16, he addressed a public rally at Talit in Burdhman district, to the disappointment of the TMC government.
After Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government refused to grant permission for the rally on the ground that it would disturb those who were taking the class 10th board examination, the Calcutta High Court allowed it with the condition that the rally would not disturb the examinees.
Making the strategy of “catching them young” clear, the RSS chief emphasised attracting those between 14 years and 20 years of age. He met RSS kandha (block) leaders, who organise “shakhas” twice daily.
It has also thrust the Gram Panchayat and ward level so that the organisation could reach out to a vast number of people.
The Hindutva outfit boasts of 6,000 “shakhas” daily twice across the state, which is proud of its secular credentials.
Though Bhagwat claimed at the Talit rally that India had always respected and embraced divergent views and pluralism, analysts believe, he meant just the opposite to what he said.
He claimed, “‘Indian civilisation is ancient and accepts the plurality in the world. Every community has its character. Hindus know it and accept that.”
However, the RSS chief soon reverted to the old Sangh position as he said, “The culture created our identity as ‘Hindus’’. ‘Hindu’ is not people from a particular community or religion.
Referring to the partition of the country, Bhagwat said, “Those who felt they couldn’t remain within this harmonious society, made their own country. Those who didn’t leave the country accepted that nature of Indian society.”
With this background, it is clear that the RSS may focus on the West Bengal Elections.
Buoyed on its success in the assembly elections of Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi, the RSS may swoop down upon West Bengal as well.
It was the Hindutva outfit that deployed its ‘swayamsevaks’ and used the network of the organisation associated with it. Besides the RSS workers, members and sympathisers of the associated organisations fanned across Delhi constituencies and reached out to voters.
The RSS may adopt this strategy in West Bengal also.
At a time when the Hindutva outfit is gearing up to hold its centenary celebration with full fanfare, the West Bengal unit is planning to come out with all guns blazing. With its 6,000 branches spread across the state, the RSS chief has asked the cadre to intensify ground-level activities.
Though the state will go to the polls one year from now, the Hindutva outfit seems to be full of enthusiasm.
The “sangh pariwar” is buoyed on its previous success in West Bengal politics as it has achieved a high degree of Hindu consolidation.
It got 38.15% of the vote in the 2021 Assembly elections and 38.73% in the 2024 general elections.
