RSS leaders are expected to discuss grassroots outreach in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh at the upcoming Indore meeting. (Img: X)
Lucknow: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is sharpening its outreach strategy in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab as political preparations gather momentum ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. The organisation is expected to deliberate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh and the growing concern over drug abuse in Punjab during its annual meeting in Indore from November 2 to 4.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing for the electoral contests, the RSS is also working to strengthen its grassroots presence in the two states. According to people familiar with the organisation’s plans, the Sangh is assessing local political concerns and community-level issues that could shape its outreach in the coming months.
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has emerged as a politically contentious issue in Uttar Pradesh, with competing claims over the scale and implications of the exercise. RSS leaders believe the revision could become a prominent subject of political debate if opposition parties intensify their criticism. According to a senior Sangh functionary cited in reports, the organisation’s ground-level assessment suggests that raising the issue could potentially benefit the BJP rather than weaken its position.
Sangh leaders have also disputed opposition claims about the number of voters affected by the exercise. They maintain that the revision has affected around three crore people, rather than the 13 crore figure cited by the opposition, arguing that many deletions relate to deceased or duplicate entries.
These figures and competing claims remain central to the political debate surrounding electoral roll revision. The broader issue concerns voter verification, electoral transparency and the accuracy of voter lists ahead of elections.
In Punjab, the RSS is reportedly placing greater emphasis on drug abuse awareness and community engagement as it seeks to expand its grassroots presence. Sangh representatives have indicated that regular shakhas, or local organisational gatherings, are being conducted in different parts of the state. The outreach reportedly involves cooperation with local deras and non-governmental organisations to raise awareness about drug abuse and its social consequences.
Drug addiction remains a significant public concern in Punjab, affecting families, community welfare and debates over public health and law enforcement. By engaging with local institutions and community networks, the RSS is seeking to connect its activities with an issue that has considerable social and political relevance. The extent and impact of these activities, however, will depend on their reach, continuity and the response from local communities.
The RSS annual meeting, scheduled to take place in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, from November 2 to 4, is expected to provide an opportunity to assess organisational priorities and refine outreach plans. The discussions could include the political implications of electoral roll revision in Uttar Pradesh, the Sangh’s organisational expansion in Punjab and its engagement with local social issues.
The meeting comes at a time when political organisations are strengthening their networks and refining their messaging ahead of important electoral contests. The RSS’s approach is particularly significant because its grassroots activities operate alongside, but are organisationally distinct from, the BJP’s electoral campaign.
