NEW DELHI: The Bhartiya Janata Party is gearing up for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday on September 17 even as speculation is rife that he will be retiring as PM after turning 75 as seen from his cancellation of address to the UN General Assembly session and instead sending Foreign Minister Jaishankar to address the session on his behalf.
He touches the 75 years mark, an important milestone in politics and personal life.
However, political analysts and observers of politics also started talking about his retirement after 75 years, the age limit fixed by him for other veterans in the BJP to retire.
There were several reasons for his retirement theory:
Reason 1
2014 Election and sidelining of L.K. Advani from mainstream politics
After the BJP’s victory in the 2014 general elections, the party set up the Margdarshak Mandal, including former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani and former Union minister Murli Manohar Joshi.
At that time, BJP leaders aged over 75 were not given any administrative roles.
Former finance minister Yashwant Sinha was also excluded from the government due to this age limit.
Reason 2
In 2016 Gujarat CM took retirement
In 2016, when Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel resigned, she too was 75 years old at the time. That same year, Najma Heptulla also stepped down from the Modi Cabinet at the age of 76.
Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, then BJP president Amit Shah stated in an interview with The Week magazine that no one above the age of 75 had been given a ticket. He clarified that this was the party’s decision.
Reason 3
Mohan Bhagwat veiled dig at turning 75 years in an event
At the launch of a book on senior RSS leader Moropant Pingle in Nagpur on 9 July, Mr. Bhagwat recalled an episode from an RSS meeting in Vrindavan, where Mr. Pingle was honoured on turning 75.
Quoting Mr. Pingle from that occasion, Mr. Bhagwat said, “People started laughing at me when I stand… Because I feel that people are not taking me seriously… you gave this shawl to me at the age of 75, but I know its meaning. When a shawl is draped at the age of 75, it means that you have grown old, just move aside, let us do it.”
Mr. Bhagwat noted that while the gesture was made with respect for his dignity, Mr. Pingle was mindful not to become attached to that pride.
However, later on, the RSS chief clarified that his statements were not aimed at anyone. He clarified that he was not forcing Modi to retire as per his own words and it is up to Modi to take the decision.
Reason 4
Kejriwal’s claims on retirement
While campaigning in the Lok Sabha election after securing interim bail from Tihar Jail, then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that a vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024 would effectively be a vote for Amit Shah as Prime Minister.
He argued that Mr. Modi would have to retire from politics upon turning 75 on 17 September 2025.
