Editorial: Will Narendra Modi retire at 75? A nudge from the mentor

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remark has all the makings of a planned missive to induce intended action

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is never known to speak off the cuff. His public comments are always measured and loaded with meaning. Viewed from this angle, the timing of his remarks on the retirement age for politicians is curious and intriguing. By asking the leaders to hang up their boots when they reach 75 years of age, the BJP’s ideological mentor is indirectly sending a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will turn 75 this September. Though not an open confrontation, there has been a sense of veiled faceoff between Bhagwat and Modi for some time now. In a blunt message soon after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which saw the BJP settling for a reduced mandate, the Sarsanghchalak spoke about the ‘arrogance of the rulers’ and suggested that true ‘sevak’ should serve the people without being arrogant. For his die-hard supporters, Modi represents a larger-than-life image and is much bigger than the party he represents and the government he heads. On his part, the Prime Minister has been trying to break free from the clutches of the RSS. This has apparently created an unspoken tension between the two. The latest salvo has, understandably, set off ripples in political circles. It has raised a key question: whether the BJP would make an exception for Modi with regard to the retirement age. Interestingly, both Modi and Bhagwat turn 75 this September. The saffron party had earlier held that 75 years was the upper age limit for those fit for public office.

Several veteran leaders like LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Jaswant Singh were forced into retirement and made members of the ‘Margadarshak Mandal’ when they crossed the age limit. However, this norm has been selectively used under Modi’s leadership, mainly for the benefit of his loyalists. Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and former Gujarat Chief Anandiben Patel were given the exemption. The RSS chief’s nudge should not be seen as an off-the-cuff remark. Instead, it has all the makings of a planned missive to induce intended action. The RSS would definitely like to have a say in handpicking a successor to Modi if the latter decides to call it a day. This is not the first time a Sangh leader has commented on retirement age. Former RSS chief K Sudarshan, who stepped down at 78, had earlier proposed that senior leaders like Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee should retire at 75 and give way to others. However, it is entirely possible that this unwritten norm is waived for Modi, allowing him to remain in office till the end of this term. It is argued that he remains the most popular leader in the country, at least for now. Moreover, from the Sangh Parivar perspective, it can be said that Modi has been faithfully pursuing and fulfilling the Hindutva goals.

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