Bengaluru: Will the BJP Central leadership extend its unwritten rule that leaders who turn 75 should retire from public life, to Karnataka too? This has become a topic of discussion in Karnataka BJP circles after Najma Heptulla and Anandiben Patel chose to ‘retire.’ Reason?
The party central leadership has already projected BJP state unit president B.S.Yeddyurappa as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2018 Assembly elections which are likely to be held in April- May 2018. Interestingly, Mr Yeddyurappa will turn 75 in February 2018!
According to sources close to the former CM, the 75 year age bar will not be applicable to Yeddyurappa. The age bar can be relaxed as the elections will be fought under his leadership, The central leadership is unlikely to impose the 75 year rule on him, sources said.
Since this is not a hard and fast rule, it is not being following strictly with regard to senior leaders in North India. For instance Babulal Gaur, Home Minister in Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s government in Madhya Pradesh has turned 86 and was only recently dropped from the Cabinet. Even PWD minister Sartaj Singh continued as minister till he turned 76 in the Chauhan Cabinet, sources said.
Kalraj Mishra, the Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Narendra Modi’s cabinet has turned 75 and continues as minister, Since Mishra is a powerful Brahmin leader from Uttar Pradesh, he is unlikely to be dropped in view of the Assembly election in UP, sources told this newspaper. Sources said Mr Yeddyurappa will be allowed to serve as CM for two or three years if the BJP wins and then convinced to step down.
A party core committee member told this newspaper that the 75 year bar should not be applicable to a party leader who has the capacity to serve the people. “Revenue minister Kagodu Thimmappa, will turn 84, but he is still active. Age should not be a hurdle for leaders who have enormous capacity to serve the people”, BJP leader said.
