Thodupuzha: The rift between the BJP state leadership in Kerala and the RSS has been widening as the RSS state leadership has become increasingly exasperated with the functioning of the state unit of the BJP and the groupism prevailing within the party. It is said that the growing discontentment could be the reason why the RSS pulled back RSS pracharak K. Subhash from the post of organizational general secretary of the BJP. For some time now, Subhash had been engaged in activities to redeem the party from the clutches of groups and divisive activities.

Insiders said that Subhash had the full backing of the RSS for his efforts to quell the discontentment among leaders in the party. They also said that he played a stellar role in keeping the party system rolling effectively during the Lok Sabha elections, in which the party managed to improve its performance considerably. He personally visited the houses of many workers who had withdrawn due to dissatisfaction with the party leadership in the state and brought them back to the party.

He had also announced that the RSS would bring in a fresh leadership in the state rooted in Sangh Parivar ideology, devoid of any groups. Though he moved in this direction post-Lok Sabha elections, it is said that Subhash did not receive any support within the BJP, as strong groups within the party and state leadership refused to cooperate with him in his attempt to cleanse the party of groupism.

His intention was to bring in leaders without any groups who had played key roles in constituencies where the party performed well in the Lok Sabha elections so that the party could retain the upper hand established in certain regions. However, there were not many takers in the state leadership for his attempt to revive the party's structure. Worse, prominent leaders decided not to cooperate with Subhash in his efforts to give the party a fresh look. It is also said that he was keen on removing certain prominent leaders from key posts within the party, which they had achieved purely on the basis of group interests. The two strong groups prevailing in the state refused to cooperate with Subhash in his efforts. Eventually, fed up with the style of functioning of the state leadership, Subhash expressed his reluctance to continue in his post to the RSS.

By withdrawing the organizational general secretary, the RSS intends to give shock treatment to the state leadership, which has become entangled in group fights. They have also decided not to appoint a new general secretary for the time being. In the BJP, the post of organizational secretary is considered one of the most important roles, coordinating party activities at the grassroots level on a daily basis. Normally, this role is played by RSS pracharaks across the country. With the RSS withdrawing Subhash from the BJP, the connecting link between the BJP and the RSS has been cut.

It is learned that the RSS has already informed their dissatisfaction with the functioning of the state leadership to the national leadership of the BJP. When BJP National President JP Nadda held a meeting with the state leaders of the RSS during his visit to Thiruvananthapuram to participate in the BJP state leadership meeting, this dissatisfaction was conveyed.