‘Poor turnout’ in 2 phases of polls spurs RSS to draw fresh plan to enthuse voters

Lucknow: With reports of lacklustre response of voters in the first two phases of Lok Sabha polling in West UP region, senior RSS functionaries are busy drawing a fresh strategy to give the momentum to the poll campaign so that more voters reach the polling booths in the remaining phases. RSS insiders insist that though the plan was in place in RSS’ West UP region, it lacked momentum primarily due to lack of enthusiasm among RSS and BJP workers and supporters.Sources said that among several reasons behind the ‘indifference’ of workers on the ground was also the repetition of candidates in several Lok Sabha constituencies despite red flags raised by local BJP and RSS units.Now, the RSS functionaries are telling its volunteers to bury the hatchet, shun complacency and start working afresh.Taking the advice seriously, the RSS unit of the east UP region has intensified its campaign and is moving forward with the goal of holding at least 100 small meetings in each ward to motivate voters and workers alike to actively participate in the ongoing polls.RSS east UP pracharak or kshetriya pracharak Anil Singh is looking after the RSS campaign.The RSS has also appointed pracharaks in a cluster of two to four Lok Sabha constituencies to micro-manage the ongoing polling exercise.Citing example, an RSS office-bearer told TOI that senior RSS pracharak, Manojkant, who is also the director of Rashtra Dharm magazine and co-east UP publicity in charge has been assigned the responsibility of Mohanlalaganj, Lucknow, Unnao and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituencies.Similarly, Subhash, who is former Goraksh prant pramukh, had been entrusted with the responsibility of Lok Sabha constituencies of Awadh province of the RSS administrative division and Manoj, who is also kshetra sah-sampark pramukh, had been entrusted with the responsibility of Goraksh province of the RSS.The RSS insider said that a pamphlet has been printed for the distribution in the constituencies. The pamphlet has description of the work undertaken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-term govt and other BJP-ruled state govts, including Uttar Pradesh. The descriptions of the work have been categorised under 10 sub-headings.The sub-heading of ‘faith-related work’ has mention of construction of Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya after the dispute of 500 years, beautification of Kedarnath and Badrinath pilgrimage sites etc.Similarly, another subheading is ‘renovation of pilgrimage centres.’The pamphlet under the heading has mention of construction of Kashi Vishwanath corridor, Mahakal corridor in Ujjain etc.The other headings include, ‘Matrashakti’ under which there is mention of permanent commissioning of women in armed forces etc.Similarly, under the heading of ‘global position of India’ there is mention of acceptance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a strong world leader etc. The other sub-headings include other good works undertaken by the govt, foreign policy, Jammu and Kashmir, honouring of great Indian personalities, national security and ‘ek Bharat, shresth Bharat’.Interestingly, volunteers have been asked to distribute the pamphlets to as many people as they can and encourage them to vote in the interest of the country.