A political storm has erupted before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday on September 17th. Congress leader Udit Raj has made a provocative statement, predicting Modi’s resignation on that date. Raj’s comments are linked to the age-related precedents set by the PM himself. The opposition has persistently brought up the topic of PM Modi’s retirement, especially following the 2019 announcement by Amit Shah concerning age limits. The Congress is now focusing on Modi’s possible retirement at 75, referencing statements made by RSS head Mohan Bhagwat. Bhagwat has since clarified his position, asserting that he never stipulated a retirement age. Narendra Damodardas Modi was born on September 17, 1950, in Mehsana, Gujarat. He served as Chief Minister of Gujarat for three terms (2001-14) and has been Prime Minister since 2014. On July 25, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge raised questions about Modi’s retirement plans, referencing the RSS’s previous comments. Kharge inquired about the PM’s retirement, implying that Modi prioritizes his own position, and cited the removal of senior BJP figures, such as L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi. During a book release in Nagpur on July 9, Mohan Bhagwat suggested that turning 75 meant stepping aside. However, Bhagwat later clarified that he never explicitly mandated retirement at the age of 75. At a later event, Bhagwat reiterated that as an RSS worker, he would fulfill any assigned duty, regardless of his age. In May 2023, Amit Shah stated that the BJP’s constitution has no retirement provision and that Modi will continue leading until 2029. Rajnath Singh has also rejected these speculations, stating that such a decision had never been made.
