Why the rift is 'real'

The RSS leadership is trying to downplay the rumors of a growing rift between the BJP and the Sangh. 

What caused the rift to come out in the open was JP Nadda’s statement on the eve of the elections that the BJP was quite capable of winning the elections on its own and did not need any kind of support from the RSS.

This statement by the BJP President is now being tempered by the RSS leaders saying that Nadda’s intentions were right but the timing was wrong. 

“The RSS has always wanted its organizations and affiliates to have their own cadre. So, there is nothing wrong in what Nadda said, he could have probably framed it better but we are not a political party and we do not get involved in elections directly,” said Ram Madhav, Member of the RSS National Executive Committee.

Nevertheless, there indeed seems to be a serious problem brewing between the BJP and the RSS, especially over the style of Modi-Shah functioning. 

It is difficult to believe that it was a mere ‘slip of the tongue’ or anything else by a seasoned politician like Nadda and that too at such an important period when the country was going for elections.

Finally, Nadda did nothing to dispel the confusion created by his words. There was no clarification of any sort from him and what’s more, he’s been rewarded with a Union cabinet berth. 

This more than anything else proves that the rift between the Sangh and the BJP is indeed ‘real’.