Senior Leaders Feel Marginalized as BJP Embraces New Faces; RSS Moves to Mediate
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is experiencing an internal crisis as older leaders feel increasingly marginalized amid frequent leadership changes. From the national level to booth-level organizations, responsibilities are shifting from one generation to another, often leaving veteran leaders sidelined. This trend, which has persisted over the years, has now led to growing dissatisfaction within the party ranks. To address the issue, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has stepped in to mediate and restore balance within the organization.
Leadership Changes and the Exclusion of Senior Leaders
BJP has long been known for replacing older leaders with new faces whenever there is a change in leadership at the national level. This organizational pattern trickles down to the state, district, and booth levels, leading to a complete overhaul of leadership structures at every level.
Even some of BJP’s founding leaders, such as Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who played crucial roles in shaping the party, have faded from active politics. Many other influential leaders who were once at the forefront have also seen their roles diminished or completely eliminated over time.
Some of the notable leaders who have lost prominence in BJP’s structure include:
- Vasundhara Raje
- Uma Bharti
- B.S. Yediyurappa
- Vinay Katiyar
- Sumitra Mahajan
- Venkaiah Naidu
- Ravi Shankar Prasad
- Syed Shahnawaz Hussain
- Rajiv Pratap Rudy
BJP’s Organizational Shifts at the State Level
The trend of side-lining senior leaders is not limited to the national level but is also observed in different states.
For instance, during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Asim Ghosh was the West Bengal BJP president. However, many of today’s young BJP workers in the state are unaware of his contributions.
While many senior leaders endure this marginalization quietly, some leave the party or become inactive. Though leaders like Yashwant Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha, and Kirti Azad left BJP, the trend is more noticeable at the district and booth levels, where old leaders either shift allegiance to other parties or completely withdraw from active politics.
Defections and Discontent Among Local Leaders
West Bengal, where BJP is not in power, has witnessed frequent defections among its leaders.
- In 2021, ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections, Gangaprasad Sharma left BJP and joined Trinamool Congress (TMC). His exit was a major blow since he was a key figure in Jalpaiguri-Alipurduar politics.
- Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, former district leader Jiban Chakraborty turned rebel in Bankura, contesting as an independent candidate against BJP’s official nominee, Subhash Sarkar. While he didn’t secure a significant number of votes, Sarkar’s loss in the election has fueled concerns about the impact of alienated veteran leaders.
In districts like Birbhum, many once-prominent BJP leaders, such as Dudh Kumar Mandal and Kalo Sona Mandal, have faded into political obscurity. Many of them express disillusionment with the party, feeling that their sacrifices have been ignored after leadership changes.
A former BJP state general secretary summarized the frustration of many senior leaders:
“These leaders fought elections, endured attacks, had their businesses destroyed, and even faced legal troubles. Yet, when leadership changed, they were completely removed from responsibilities. Many of them now say they will not participate in the party’s activities anymore.”
RSS Intervenes to Bridge the Old-New Divide
Acknowledging the rising discontent, RSS has taken the initiative to restore internal harmony within BJP. The organization is conducting coordination meetings at the grassroots level (referred to as “Khand level” in RSS terminology) and holding dialogues with all factions to ensure that older leaders remain involved in party activities.
BJP leaders in West Bengal, where internal conflicts are especially prominent, are hoping that RSS’s intervention will help unify the party ahead of upcoming elections.
Will BJP Manage to Retain Its Veterans?
While BJP’s strategy of introducing new leadership has helped bring fresh energy into the party, the alienation of experienced leaders poses a significant risk. If BJP fails to integrate its old guards into meaningful roles, it may face more internal rifts and defections, especially at the grassroots level. The success of RSS’s intervention will determine whether BJP can strike a balance between experienced leadership and new political talent in the coming years.