Author: Agencies
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: March 21, 2009
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/164121/Mohan-Bhagwat-new-RSS-chief.html
Rashtriya Swayayamsewak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak
KS Sudarshan on Saturday stepped down after nearly nine years at the helm,
paving way for general secretary Mohan Bhagwat to succeed him, RSS sources
said here.
The change of guard in Sangh hierarchy came
on the second day of the three-day
Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha, an apex council of all Sangh Parivar outfits
and frontal Organisations.
RSS conclave which is expected to redefine
its relationship with the BJP. BJP president Rajnath Singh and Bal Apte, on
deputation from RSS, were present on the occasion.
Veteran ideologue Suresh Soni will be the
new Sarkaryawaha (general secretary) of the Sangh Parivar fountainhead, the
sources added. Soni used to be in the BJP hierarchy a few years ago as a joint
general secretary.
Bhagwat, who will be the sixth RSS chief,
is the youngest to assume the top post after Guruji Golwalkar. Bhagwat had
become general secretary in 2000 when Sudarshan, an electronics and telecommunication
engineer, took over the mantle of Sarsanghchalak from Rajendra Singh.
A veterinary doctor, Bhagwat hails from Chandrapur
in Maharashtra and became a pracharak (full time volunteer) of RSS from his
early years.
Bhagwat has held various responsibilities
including district prachark for Akola, provincial pracharak for Nagpur and
zonal prachark for Bihar before being made joint secretary.
The RSS was founded in Nagpur by late Keshav
Baliram Hedgewar (1925-1940) and Guruji Golwalkar was the second Sarsanghchalak
between 1940 and 1973. Balasaheb Deoras took over as the RSS chief in 1973
and continued till his death in June 1994.
Rajendra Singh, popularly known as Rajju Bhaiyya
was at the helm of affairs from 1994 to 2000 and due to his ill health, he
expressed his desire to pave the way for Sudarshan.
