RSS wants to replace Modi, mid-term polls likely: Malik

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Former Gover nor Satyapal Malik has alleged the ruling BJP’s parent body RSS wanted to replace Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the top post.

He added the saffron party’s failure to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha would result in a mid-term election. The BJP won 240 seats in the recent general elections, falling 32 short of 272, the number required for a simple majority.

The ruling party is now dependent on National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies to form a government at the Centre. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) with its 16 seats and the JD(U) with 12 more form key allies.

This had not been the case in 2014 and 2019 as the Modi-led BJP juggernaut steamrolled to 282 and 303 seats respectively. Malik made the remarks in an interview to news website The Wire.

“The information that I received is that in a meeting that the RSS had called in New Delhi recently, they wanted to replace him (Modi). This thinking has taken root and the RSS might change him eventually,” Malik said.

The former Governor claimed that Modi would find it difficult to keep allies happy.

“That is not his (Modi’s) nature. He wants to run things like a dictatorship. He will soon have a falling out with these people (NDA allies),” he said. “It (mid-term) elections are a real possibility,” he added.