In response to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s conjecture regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s retirement, Amit Shah, the Home Minister, asserted that there’s no reason for Kejriwal to rejoice over Modi’s 75th birthday. “I want to tell Arvind Kejriwal and company that you have nothing to be happy about Modiji turning 75. It’s not written in BJP’s constitution anywhere that he can’t be the prime minister. He will be the prime minister and complete his term. There is no confusion in the party,” Shah stated during a press conference in Telangana.
Kejriwal, fresh out of jail after 50 days, wasted no time in addressing his first rally and made a bold assertion that voting for Modi in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024 would essentially mean voting for Amit Shah as the next Prime Minister. He pointed out Modi’s upcoming 75th birthday, suggesting his imminent retirement as per his own rule of retirement at that age. Kejriwal’s statement further speculated on Shah’s ascension to the top position thereafter.
Reacting sharply, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi dismissed Kejriwal’s claims, alleging that Kejriwal himself lacked trust in his AAP colleagues to succeed him, contrasting it with the BJP’s orderly succession plan. Trivedi likened Kejriwal’s statement to that of someone under the influence of alcohol, implying its lack of coherence.
On the other hand, AAP MP Sanjay Singh supported Kejriwal’s argument, emphasizing the precedence set by Modi himself in retiring senior BJP leaders upon reaching 75. Singh demanded clarity from Modi on whether this age factor would apply to him as well. He urged Modi to clarify if he would exempt himself from the rule that was applied to leaders like LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.
With the political temperature rising, Kejriwal’s comments have sparked a debate over BJP’s leadership succession and Modi’s future in the party. As the election season draws closer, such speculations and counterclaims are likely to intensify, shaping the narrative of the political landscape.
