Ram Madhav's Return: What's Behind BJP Leaning On RSS Veteran For Critical J&K Assembly Election

Ram Madhav's return to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fold ahead of the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir assembly election has come as a surprise.

Madhav was instrumental in the BJP's rise in both the North East and Jammu and Kashmir. He played a key role in forming an alliance between the BJP and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, which marked a significant political achievement in the region.

Although he was not directly involved in the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, his previous work in the Valley laid the groundwork for the BJP's approach to Jammu and Kashmir.

After remaining in political exile for more than five years, Madhav's return to active politics indicates a return of the dependency on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for the BJP to be able to tackle complex political problems.

Madhav was dropped as a BJP general secretary in September 2020, when J P Nadda took over as the president of the party and rejigged the organisational structure.

Since then, Madhav has been reportedly involved only with the Sangh and his New Delhi-based think-tank, India Foundation. According to media reports, Madhav's return to active organisational politics reflects the BJP's ability to adapt and approach relevant individuals when in need.

Madhav played a crucial role in establishing a BJP government for the first time in the Valley in 2014, when the party allied with Mehbooba Mufti's PDP, until the government fell and a Governor's rule was imposed subsequently.

Sources in the RSS tell Swarajya on the condition of anonymity that Madhav's appointment is just the beginning of many changes that are expected.

"Especially in Kashmir, post the abrogation of Article 370, there has been immense scrutiny from the media and the general public, and the future of peace in the valley hangs in the balance. The government has been successful so far in reducing the violence, but we are getting to see sparks of it once again. We cannot afford to undo all the good work done in the last 10 years, and since Ram Madhav has dealt with J&K for almost six years and has networks in the political circles and the media, it will be of help to the party," they said.

Furthermore, now that the party is at its most vulnerable state in the last decade or so, it will need all the auxiliary support possible from the RSS.

"He (Ram Madhav) has connections across party lines in the Kashmir Valley, and that helps the BJP to reach out to unlikely allies and candidates with whom they can strategically tie up. You need someone who knows the Valley well and has a grip over the politics of the region. Naturally, he was chosen," they add.

The BJP's electoral performance in Jammu and Kashmir saw a significant improvement between the 2008 and 2014 assembly elections.

In 2008, the party managed to secure just 11 seats, reflecting its limited influence in the region. However, by 2014, the BJP made substantial gains, winning 25 seats and emerging as the second-largest party in the assembly. This marked a crucial step in the party's efforts to establish a stronger foothold in Jammu and Kashmir.

In the days following the election results, both the BJP and PDP initiated formal discussions to create a common minimum programme (CMP) aimed at reconciling their differing ideologies.

During a joint press conference, BJP president Amit Shah and PDP leader Mufti announced that the parties had resolved their ideological differences and were ready to form a coalition government.

Cut to the present, on Tuesday (20 August), the BJP appointed Madhav and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy as the in-charge for the upcoming assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir.

The election will take place in three phases on 18 September, 25 September, and 1 October, with the results to be announced on 4 October.