‘RSS enjoys significant influence in CM’s office’, Ponnanna says no

Bengaluru

At least five highly placed sources revealed to blrpost.com that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) holds sway over Chief Minister (CM) Siddaramaiah’s office. However, Virajpet MLA and the CM’s legal advisor, A S Ponnanna, said the allegations of sangh parivar influence are unsubstantiated.

So far, the RSS has been widely seen as the ideological adversary of Siddaramaiah’s staunch, ideology-driven politics. Therefore, these developments have come as a shock to many observers. A senior journalist closely associated with the CM’s office said, “a section of bureaucrats and some close associates of Siddaramaiah are in constant touch with RSS leaders. It appears that these leaders have considerable influence.”

Another source claimed that BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh, former General Secretary (Organisation) of Karnataka BJP G V Rajesh, and senior RSS leader S Vadiraj have come into contact with the CM’s office multiple times for various reasons. The source further alleged that officials from the CM’s office held a closed-door meeting with G V Rajesh shortly before Siddaramaiah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2025.

The source also stressed that the alleged influence of the RSS was evident in the way the Congress government ensured the smooth completion of RSS route marches in nearly 260 places without a single untoward incident. According to the source, the same government struggled to maintain law and order during certain Ganesha festival processions, particularly in Maddur in Mandya district. The administration, the source alleged, appeared to treat the RSS route marches as a task that had to be executed with special attention.

Journalist and activist Naveen Soorinje cited multiple instances which he claimed demonstrate the influence of the RSS within Siddaramaiah’s office.

In his first allegation, Soorinje claimed that the CM office is being indirectly managed by individuals associated with RSS ideology. He alleged that the office maintains regular communication with RSS functionaries, even as national leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge publicly speak about building an RSS-free society. He said that an internal inquiry ordered by the Chief Minister could reveal documentary evidence of such contacts.

In the second instance, he referred to a BJP legislator who allegedly disclosed details of allocations and references to his constituency in the state budget a day before it was formally presented. According to Soorinje, the accuracy of those details suggests that the budget may have been leaked through an official in the CMO who allegedly shares caste ties with the legislator. He argued that this episode warrants a formal investigation.

The third allegation relates to the run-up to the 2023 Assembly elections. Soorinje claimed that an official close to Siddaramaiah allegedly communicated with a senior RSS/BJP functionary to influence candidate selection. He further said that an IAS officer who witnessed the interaction could testify if an inquiry were to be conducted.

Responding to these claims, Ponnanna told the reporter of this website that those making such allegations must come forward with names and provide concrete evidence. He added that “these allegations about RSS influence are far from true.”