When asked who would succeed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat firmly declined to comment. Bhagwat said that discussions and decisions regarding the country’s next Prime Minister are entirely the responsibility of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Modi himself.

Bhagwat responded, “Some questions are beyond my scope, so I have nothing to say on this. I can only wish him well. Who will take over after Modi is for Modi and the BJP to decide.”

Signal that the RSS won’t enter the succession debate
Bhagwat made this statement on December 9 in Chennai during the centenary celebrations of the RSS, and it is being viewed as a clear indication that the Sangh does not intend to involve itself in any leadership debate within the BJP.

He further emphasized that if India aims to emerge as a global leader, caste-based and linguistic divisions must end. “We need to take the RSS to over one lakh locations. Our goal is to eliminate caste and language-based divides and build a united society,” he said.

Dialogue with the public is essential
During another event in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, Bhagwat said that a deeper engagement with the public is necessary, as conversations about the RSS often rely more on perceptions than facts. He explained that new nationwide programs are being organized where RSS volunteers will interact with people and share accurate information about the organization.

Speaking at the ‘RSS’s 100-Year Journey – New Horizons’ event, Bhagwat said, “The organization has completed 100 years of work, and over the past 10–15 years, the RSS has frequently been a subject of discussion. One thing becomes clear during these discussions: both supporters and critics often speak based on assumptions, not facts.”