Scenting power at the Centre, the RSS has quietly endorsed the BJP's efforts to go all out and win the numbers game. The top priority of the Sangh now is that the BJP form the next government and so it has indicated to the party that it will not oppose "any compromises" which may be needed to form the government.

The first draft of the "national agenda", a euphemism for the party's Common Minimum Programme ... was approved by K.C. Sudershan, senior RSS leader, who held meetings with BJP leaders Murli Manohar Joshi and K. Govindacharya today.

Sudershan, incidentally ... had strongly criticised the BJP's efforts to downplay Hindutva in its pre-election rhetoric. Now .. the RSS has turned around and approved the party's move to drop the Ram temple, Article 370 and a ban on cow slaughter from the "national agenda".

And when the BJP approached former Union Minister Sukh Ram in Himachal Pradesh for his support in forming the state government, the RSS preferred to remain silent ... Sukh Ram figures in the list of "scam- tainted politicians" in the country today.

Evidently, topmost on the RSS agenda - as for the BJP - is to form the next government. But on two issues, the Sangh has stood firm. It has insisted that the "national agenda" include the uniform civil code - even in a modified form - and national security with "infiltration     of Muslims" a key component.