New Delhi:
Through the day, senior BJP leaders, many of them reportedly in the running for posts in
Narendra Modi's government, visited the prime minister-to-be, party chief
Rajnath Singh, and representatives of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), though not necessarily in that order. (
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Mr Modi is to be sworn in this week and the RSS, which is the powerful ideological mentor of his party, says it's role in government formation is purely advisory.
"Any government which is run by remote control is not good for democracy," said Sarkaryavah Suresh Joshi, general secretary of the RSS, to news agency AFP.
Asked what role the RSS would play in the new government, Joshi replied: "No role. If they ask us we will suggest (ideas) to them."
In Delhi today, BJP heavy-hitters like Amit Shah and
Sushma Swaraj met with RSS representatives like Suresh Soni and Bhaiyyaji Joshi. (
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Mr Modi, 63, was an active campaigner in the RSS into his 30s and RSS workers played a significant grassroots role in campaigning for him.
However, he chose to make issues like the economy and development the main focus of his campaign rather than highlighting a "Hindutva" or Hindu nationalist agenda.
While Modi has said development is his "religion", the party's manifesto included a pledge to build a temple to for Lord Ram in Ayodhya where the 16th-century Babri Masjid was razed in 1992, triggering deadly riots. (
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"By setting aside the ideological, religious and social differences, we expect the new government to create an environment where the nation stays united, there is total social inclusiveness and no one ever feels exploited," said Mr Joshi of the RSS.
The BJP secured 282 seats in the 543-member parliament, the biggest victory since 1984. Congress was devastated, holding just 44 seats - a quarter of its tally at the 2009 election.