File Photo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
What the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS had described as a routine meeting, seemed anything but this as the Narendra Modi government's top generals trooped into Madhya Pradesh Bhawan in Delhi's Vasant Kunj on Wednesday morning.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh was there, as were Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Health Minister JP Nadda and several others, for almost 10 hours.
Behind closed doors, with the media kept out, the ministers made presentations to small groups of Sangh members at the three-day meeting, presided over by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
They also fielded questions, including some tough ones, from members of the RSS, the ruling BJP's ideological mentor and its 15 affiliates attending the meet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend too, said sources, and BJP chief Amit Shah will brief the conclave about the BJP's programmes in the last few months and plans for the future, especially in view of the Bihar elections, to be held soon.
"All national and economic issues are on the agenda," said BJP general secretary Ram Madhav.
Ms Swaraj's presentation on Wednesday covered the NSA-level talks with Pakistan that did not happen and also the boundary accord with Bangladesh. Arun Jaitley's briefing was crucial - the stock market crash, dipping growth figures and the government's failure to pass crucial legislation like the goods and services tax bill were discussed.
Some affiliates like the Swadeshi Jagran Manch have complained that key policies in the Narendra Modi government's reform drive are at odds with the Sangh's swadeshi agenda.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has long complained that the BJP has put demands like a Ram temple in Ayodhya on the backburner. It also wants a say in education and curriculum.
These organisations have been asked to provide feedback, which ministers are expected to refer to when tweaking policies, sources said.
The conclave will also set bench rules for the relationship between the RSS and the BJP government.