New Delhi, Mar 10: The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the highest decision-making body of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), re-elected Bhaiyyaji Joshi as the sahkaryawah or the general secretary.

Joshi, a veteran Sangh leader, had presided over the post in 2009. After two consecutive extensions, he continued as sahkaryawah over the last nine years.

His re-election at the ongoing session of  Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha in Nagpur was proposed by West region's sarsanghchalak Jayant Bhadesi, who listed the success made under the past three-year tenureship of Joshi.

Virendra Parakramaditya, the Kanpur-based Sanghchalak, supported Bhadesi's proposal to re-elect Joshi.

Confirming the re-election of Joshi to the coveted post, RSS' Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh (communication in charge) Manmohan Vaidya said Joshi was elected unopposed as no other name was proposed. "His tenure will continue till 2021," he said.

What is the role of sarkaryawah?

The sarkaryawah or general secretary is the second-highest position in the RSS hierarchy, after the all-India sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat.

The sarkaryawah functions as the chief executive of the Sangh, overseeing the performance of all affiliated bodies of Sangh, apart from maintaining the organisational apparatus.

The sarkaryawah also acts as an interface between the RSS and its political arm - the BJP.

According to Sangh insiders, the sarkaryawah remains the most eligible contender to take over the reigns of RSS after the sarsanghchalak steps down.

Bhagwat, before presiding over the top post of RSS, was functioning as the sarkaryawah under K S Sundaran.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 10, 2018 05:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).