RSS senior leader Ram Madhav joins BJP

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader and in-charge of its media and public relations Ram Madhav has been deputed by the Sangh to work in the Bharatiya Janata Party where he is expected to be given a role by the new party president.

According to sources, another RSS leader Shiv Prakash has also been deputed by the Sangh to work for the party now. Prakash was a regional ‘pracharak’ of the RSS in western Uttar Pradesh.

The two RSS leaders are likely to find a prominent place in reorganised BJP that is also expected to see a new president as incumbent Rajnath Singh may relinquish his charge of the party after becoming Union Home Minister. Madhav said he would ‘join BJP’ and is looking forward to a new role in the party.

The Sangh, the ideological mentor of BJP, had earlier too deputed many of its leaders from time to time, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had been a full-time RSS pracharak, in the party. Sources say Ram Madhav is likely to be one of the new BJP general secretaries in the party-set up.

Party general secretary Amit Shah is said to be leading the race for the post of BJP president. The party seeks to revamp itself ahead of assembly elections due in states like Maharashtra, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand later this year and early next year.