RSS Chief's 75-Year Rule Sparks MP BJP Debate
Fourteen out of 163 BJP MLAs in Madhya Pradesh will cross 75 years of age when the state goes to Assembly polls in 2028: Reports
BHOPAL: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) supremo Mohan Bhagwat’s retirement formula for the BJP leaders has created a ripple in the ruling party circles here as 14 BJP MLAs in Madhya Pradesh faced the prospect of losing ticket in the 2028 Assembly elections if it is enforced.
Mr. Bhagwat while speaking at a book release function recently stirred a hornet’s nest in the BJP by suggesting that the political leaders who attain the age of 75 years should retire from politics to create opportunity for others.
Fourteen out of 163 BJP MLAs in Madhya Pradesh will cross 75 years of age when the state goes to Assembly polls in 2028.
“At least 14 sitting MLAs, nine of whom are veterans of more than half-a-dozen Assembly elections, will cross 75 years of age and face the prospects of being denied re-nomination in the 2028 polls in the state, if the retirement age criteria for the leaders as suggested by Mr. Bhagwat, is enforced”, a senior BJP functionary said on Monday.
Several BJP leaders have hailed the sangh leader’s suggestion arguing that the move will help build the second and third generation leaders in the party, while some veterans cautioned that experience and seniority should not be overlooked in the interest of the growth of the party.
“Experience is an asset in any field, particularly political organizations. It will not be wise for a party to overlook experience by dumping the veteran leaders”, a veteran BJP leader and ten-time MLA of the party, told this newspaper, requesting not to be quoted.
“Delivery, not age, should be criteria for retirement of a political leader”, he added.
The cut-off-age for retirement issue, in fact, had surfaced in 2014.
Two veteran ministers in the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, Sartaj Singh and Babulal Gaur, were dropped from the ministry in 2016 on the pretext of their attaining 76 and 86 years of age respectively.
The two veteran leaders of the party were also denied tickets in the 2018 Assembly elections, citing the cut-off age criteria.
However, Mr. Gaur had managed to get a party ticket for his daughter-in-law Krishna in 2018 Assembly elections from his Govindpur seat then.
In 2018 Assembly elections, 13 BJP MLAs were denied tickets under the criteria whereas in 2023 Assembly elections, seven sitting MLAs of the party were denied tickets for crossing 75 years of age.
