RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat in Gorakhpur: Focus on Outreach and Unity Ahead of UP Elections

Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh: As the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections approach, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) appears increasingly active in the state. In line with the RSS completing 100 years, the organization is implementing plans to expand its grassroots presence. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat has taken a hands-on approach in these initiatives, emphasizing outreach beyond party lines.

Message of Political Inclusivity

During a meeting with volunteers at Yogiraj Gabhiranath Auditorium, Bhagwat stressed that the RSS should maintain connections with supporters and workers of all political parties. “Instead of creating divisions based on political affiliations, we must coordinate and bring everyone together,” he said. He urged volunteers to build friendships with supporters of various parties, highlighting the organization’s values and encouraging them to join the RSS.

Unity Beyond Caste

Bhagwat also advised volunteers to rise above caste distinctions. He emphasized that outreach should be based on Hindutva principles and a sense of personal bonding, without discrimination. Volunteers were encouraged to organize shared meals and interactions in their own homes as well as others’, fostering genuine connection rather than symbolic gestures.

Emphasis on Lasting Engagement

In line with the ongoing centenary membership drive, the RSS chief highlighted the importance of voluntary engagement rather than formal enrollment. “People should join out of willingness; that is what makes the connection enduring,” he said. Volunteers were encouraged to guide new members into the organizational culture gradually, reflecting the natural way individuals develop bonds within family and society.

Focus on Countering Conversions

Bhagwat described religious conversions as a serious issue. He suggested that instead of only blaming those who promote conversions, the RSS should engage with affected individuals, listen to their concerns, and integrate them into the organization. He noted that neglect in the past had allowed conversion efforts to succeed.

Outreach to Broader Sections of Society

The statements by Bhagwat convey a clear strategy of social cohesion at a time when electoral politics in UP often relies on dividing communities along caste and religious lines. Ahead of the 2027 elections, the RSS’s approach appears aimed at promoting unity, addressing social issues like conversions, and strengthening organizational presence across the state. These messages echo earlier initiatives by the BJP and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on social and religious consolidation.