By RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to visit West Bengal’s Purba Bardhaman district on October 8, with the organisation’s proposed restructuring and expansion plans expected to be among the key issues discussed during his visit. The tour comes as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) marks its centenary year and looks to strengthen its organisational network at the local level.
According to South Bengal RSS publicity chief Biplab Roy, the Sangh is considering a shift from its existing Prant-based organisational structure to a Sambhag-based system. Under the proposed arrangement, the number of organisational units across the country could increase substantially, with the existing 44 Prants potentially being reorganised into around 110 Sambhags.
RSS considers shift from Prants to Sambhags
Roy said the RSS has so far conducted much of its organisational work through the Prant structure. The proposed Sambhag model is intended to bring organisational activities closer to the local level and create a more decentralised framework.
The restructuring is still being discussed, and the proposed changes would affect the organisation’s structure in individual states as well.
In West Bengal, the RSS currently has three Prants. Under the proposed arrangement, these could be reorganised into five Sambhags — North Bengal, Nadia, Bardhaman, Medinipur and Kolkata.
The planned changes are part of a wider organisational exercise being considered during the RSS centenary year.
Target to double number of RSS shakhas
Alongside the proposed restructuring, the RSS is also looking to expand its network of daily shakhas across West Bengal.
Roy said that around 5,000 shakhas were operational in the state in May 2026. The organisation has set a target of taking that number to 10,000.
To support the expansion, the RSS plans to conduct public-contact and organisational programmes across West Bengal between October 1 and October 10. The campaign is expected to focus on reaching people who are not currently associated with the organisation and encouraging new volunteers to join its activities.
The expansion drive is being presented as part of the RSS’s broader centenary-year effort to strengthen its presence at the grassroots level.
Focus on wider social outreach
The organisation is also seeking to increase its engagement with different sections of society as part of its centenary activities.
According to the information shared by RSS representatives, the outreach programme is intended to take organisational activities beyond its existing volunteer network and establish greater contact with different social groups.
One such initiative is expected to involve the Minority Citizens Forum, which is scheduled to organise programmes at Kolkata’s Dhanadhanya Auditorium on October 2 and 3. The events are expected to focus on outreach among minority citizens around what organisers describe as nationalist ideas.
Professor Shahid Akhtar among participants
Delhi University professor Shahid Akhtar is also expected to participate in the programme.
The proposed minority outreach is taking place alongside the RSS’s wider organisational expansion efforts in West Bengal. The initiatives together indicate an emphasis on increasing contact with different sections of society while simultaneously expanding the Sangh’s organisational network.
Bhagwat visit comes amid centenary-year expansion
Bhagwat’s October 8 visit to Purba Bardhaman is expected to provide an opportunity to discuss these organisational plans as the RSS approaches the next phase of its centenary journey.
The proposed shift towards Sambhags, the target of doubling shakhas and the planned public-contact programmes are part of a wider effort to expand the organisation’s grassroots network in West Bengal.
The extent and timing of the proposed restructuring will depend on the organisation’s internal planning and decisions. For now, the October 8 visit is expected to be an important occasion for discussions around the RSS’s organisational expansion in the state.
