Key Points
- RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comment on retirement at 75 reignites debate on BJP’s age norms.
- Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claims Bhagwat’s message is aimed directly at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turns 75 in September.
- Raut recalls BJP’s enforcement of the 75-year retirement rule on senior leaders, questioning if Modi will follow suit.
- BJP leaders, including Amit Shah and Devendra Fadnavis, firmly deny any such rule applies to Modi, asserting he will continue as PM beyond 2029.
Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has once again ignited controversy with his recent remarks at a public meeting in Nagpur. Speaking at the launch of the book “Moropant Pingle: The Architect of Hindu Resurgence,” Bhagwat referenced Moropant Pingle’s retirement at the age of 75, stating, “When someone congratulates you on turning 75, it means that now you should stop and give others a chance to work.” This comment has been widely interpreted as a subtle nudge toward enforcing retirement at 75 within political circles.
Sanjay Raut’s Sharp Reaction: Is the Message for Modi?
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut quickly seized on Bhagwat’s statement, asserting that the RSS chief was sending a direct message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will celebrate his 75th birthday in September this year. Raut pointed out the precedent set within the BJP, where senior leaders like LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, and Jaswant Singh were compelled to step aside after crossing the 75-year threshold. “Now let’s see if Modi will follow it himself,” Raut remarked, intensifying the debate within political circles.
Raut’s Previous Claims and the Nagpur Visit
This is not the first time Raut has raised the retirement issue. In March, he claimed that PM Modi’s rare visit to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur his first in over a decade was to announce his retirement. Raut argued that the visit was significant for Modi’s political future, suggesting that the RSS and its affiliates were preparing for a leadership transition within the BJP.
BJP’s Firm Denial: “No 75-Year Rule for Modi”
The BJP has categorically rejected Sanjay Raut’s assertions. Union Home Minister Amit Shah clarified that there is no provision in the BJP’s constitution mandating retirement at 75. Shah stated, “Modi will lead the country till 2029 and will also lead in the upcoming elections. There is no good news for the India Alliance. They cannot win elections by spreading lies”. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule also dismissed the speculation, emphasizing that the Prime Minister’s tenure is determined by the people’s mandate, not by arbitrary age limits.
The Broader Political Context
The so-called “75-year rule” has been a subject of debate in Indian politics, especially after it was reportedly used to sideline senior BJP leaders in the past. However, both RSS and BJP leaders have indicated that exceptions can be made. Notably, both Mohan Bhagwat and Narendra Modi will turn 75 in September, adding a layer of intrigue to the ongoing discussion about leadership succession within the Sangh Parivar and the BJP.
Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks have stirred a fresh round of speculation about age-based retirement norms in Indian politics. Sanjay Raut’s pointed comments have kept the spotlight firmly on Prime Minister Modi’s future, but the BJP leadership remains united in denying any imminent change at the top. As both Bhagwat and Modi approach the milestone age of 75, the debate over leadership succession and party norms is likely to remain a hot topic in the months ahead.
