RSS credits itself for BJP’s debut seat in Kerala

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is not shying from admitting its own contribution to help its protégé — the BJP — gain a toehold in the Left bastion of Kerala.

After the Kerala assembly election results on Thursday, the Sangh — which otherwise insists on being called a cultural organisation— shed its diffidence in admitting it helped the BJP. The party won its first ever assembly seat and its vote share jumped to a double digit from mere 6% in the 2011 assembly polls.

“Election outcomes do not determine the Sangh’s work, but yes positive changes (electoral gains) enthuse our workers,” a senior RSS functionary told HT.

The RSS, which runs the highest number of shakhas (5,000) in the state, has been zealously working to breach the Left’s firewall in Kerala. Its biggest concern about the state is its “changing demography”, which fuels worries over “increasing religious conversions” and a “decreasing Hindu population.”

“When we began work in the state, people mocked us; they said Nagpur oranges don’t grow in Kerala (RSS is headquartered in Nagpur). But our positive work in the state has been recognised. We worked undeterred by ridicule, neglect and physical attacks,” a functionary in Kerala said.