Former CBI Chief Nageswara Rao Enters Politics, Criticises BJP And RSS

Former interim CBI director M Nageswara Rao is entering electoral politics as the national president of the Sarvajan Sanatan Party. Founded in 2021, the party plans to contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in February 2027.

Criticism of BJP and RSS

Rao accuses the BJP and RSS of practicing pseudo-Hindutva to fool Hindus and secure votes. He states that despite being in power at the Centre for 12 years, the ruling leadership has failed to free temples from government control or ensure equal rights for Hindus. He further claims that over two lakh temples, 20 lakh acres of temple land, and Rs 50,000 crore in annual collections remain under state control, citing examples such as the Banke Bihari temple in Mathura and Char Dham temples in Uttarakhand. He also criticises the leadership over beef exports and the Ram Mandir.

Party Positions

The Sarvajan Sanatan Party opposes caste-based reservations and supports limited assistance only for the genuinely deserving, such as orphans or those facing severe socio-economic disadvantages. The party also opposes the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and caste-based divisions in educational institutions. Their policy platform includes four fundamental pillars represented as the four legs of Kamadhenu, starting with free, compulsory, and quality education for all citizens.

Context

Nageswara Rao previously served as an Indian Police Service officer and briefly headed the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2018 during a period of internal turmoil within the agency. His newly adopted political platform targets voters in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the upcoming state legislative assembly elections.