Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi re-elected as RSS General Secretary for 4th term

Putting all speculations to rest, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) today re-elected Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi as its General Secretary (Sarkaryawah) for a period of 3 years.

"Maananeeya Sri Suresh (Bhaiyaji) Joshi re-elected as #RSS Sarkaryavah (General Secretary) for a period of 3 years (2018-2021) by the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha at Nagpur," RSS said in a tweet. 

This will be Joshi's fourth term as Sarkaryawah of the RSS. 

Maananeeya Sri Suresh ( Bhaiyaji) Joshi re-elected as #RSS Sarkaryavah ( General Secretary ) for a period of 3 years (2018-2021) by the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha at Nagpur. #RSSABPS pic.twitter.com/e8ul1iqhyr

— RSS (@RSSorg) March 10, 2018

Sarkaryawah is the executive head of the organisation who looks after its day-to-day activities and is number two after Sarsanghchalak. Mohan Bhagwat is currently the Sarsanghchalak of the RSS, the ideological parent of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

He was elected at the triennial meeting of the RSS in Nagpur, also called Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS). ABPS, the highest decision-making body of the RSS, is meeting in Nagpur from March 9 through 11.

Earlier, reports suggested that there might be a change in the leadership in the RSS and Dattatreya Hosabale could be elected as its Sarkaryawah.

Hosabale is one of Bhaiyyaji Joshi’s three Sah-Sarkaryawahs or deputies. Other two are Suresh Soni and Dr Krishna Gopal.

Addressing a press conference ahead of the three-day meet, RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya had said that elected representatives would take part in the election of Sarkaryawah.

Around 1,500 delegates reportedly attended the meeting. The BJP is normally represented by its national president and general secretary (Organisation).

(With PTI inputs)