New Delhi: In a major blow to the ruling party in the 'gateway of the North-East', Assam, around 90 per cent members of both Viswa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have resigned in Guwahati recently, rebelling against the BJP-led government both in the state and at the Centre, sources said.
Both the organisations are the fringe rightist groups of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) - the parent organisation of BJP. According to sources, around 13,900 out of 14,000 members of Bajrang Dal and 380 members of 400 members of VHP have resigned so far. Meanwhile, the VHP sees this development as a 'conspiracy' by the former supremo Pravin Togadia. "It is very unfortunate that some people are conspiring against us. We are sure that this revolt is being led by Pravin Bhai. It is the result of his frustration," senior VHP spokesperson Surendra Jain told the Millennium Post.
Meanwhile, a senior RSS leader claimed that the prolonged 'unpleasant' relationship between Togadia and the Prime Minister and then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi could have led the former VHP chief to rebel.
In early 2000, Togadia used to share close proximity with Modi, but over the years, with a bigger say of some RSS stalwarts in state policies he became critical of the Modi-led government in the state, he added. The political analysts observe that this fallout could have influenced the recent VHP elections.
Besides, the rebel VHP-Bajrang Dal members have accused the RSS-BJP of 'conspiring' and claimed both the BJP-led government in the state and at the Centre failed to fulfil certain commitments.
Earlier this month, the former VHP chief Pravin Togadia also asserted that he would launch a new party on June 24. He further rated the Modi government's performance as "minus 25 percent" and described the PM's foreign policy as "poor".