Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, fresh from his release on interim bail by the Supreme Court, wasted no time in making political predictions, suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would retire in 2025 as he turns 75, a rule Kejriwal claims Modi himself introduced for BJP functionaries in 2014. Kejriwal suggested that Union Home Minister Amit Shah could succeed Modi if the NDA wins the elections next year.
During a media interaction, Kejriwal stated, “I ask BJP, who is going to be your PM? Modiji will turn 75 on Sept 17 next year. Modiji himself made a rule in BJP in 2014 that anyone in the party who reaches the age of 75 will retire.” He further asserted, “So I want to alert the people of the country, Modiji is not asking for votes for himself, he is seeking votes to make Amit Shah PM.”
In response to Kejriwal’s remarks, Amit Shah dismissed the speculation, affirming that Modi would complete his term and continue leading the nation. He clarified, “This is not written anywhere in BJP’s constitution. Modiji will complete his term and continue to lead the nation.”
Shah’s assertion contradicted Kejriwal’s claim about Modi’s purported retirement age and affirmed that the 75-year rule does not apply to Modi. This decision, brought in 2014, aimed to phase out veterans deemed to have reached their political expiry date. However, Modi, hailed for his popularity and leadership, remains an exception to this rule within the party.
Kejriwal’s comments sparked reactions from other senior BJP figures, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and party chief J P Nadda. Singh remarked, “The INDI Alliance, which is unable to decide on its leadership is speculating unsuccessfully about our leadership,” while Nadda reiterated, “Modi is our leader and will continue to lead us in the future.”
With the political landscape buzzing with speculation and assertions, Kejriwal’s predictions and the swift responses from BJP leaders reflect the intense atmosphere surrounding the ongoing Lok Sabha elections and the jockeying for position within India’s political corridors.
