The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh asserted on Saturday that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran LK Advani was barred from contesting elections due to a “retirement at 75 years of age” policy, allegedly instituted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Singh was backing his party chief, Arvind Kejriwal, who questioned the BJP’s future leadership as PM Modi approaches his 75th birthday on September 17.
Speaking to a news agency, Sanjay Singh said, “Arvind Kejriwal raised a very legitimate question. PM Modi had said that whoever turns 75 in the BJP will not be allowed to contest elections and will retire. Under this formula, Lal Krishna Advani, Sumitra Mahajan, and Murli Manohar Joshi were not allowed to contest elections. When Arvind Kejriwal said today that PM Modi will retire at 75 and Amit Shah will become the PM, who will fulfill Modi’s guarantee?”
Sanjay Singh urged PM Modi to clarify his stance on the policy. “Amit Shah’s statement is not enough. PM Narendra Modi should come forward and say that the rules and principles he made for other BJP leaders are not applicable to him,” he added.
Reacting to Kejriwal’s remarks, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed that the INDIA bloc, including AAP, is disoriented. “After being released from jail on interim bail, the kind of baseless things Arvind Kejriwal said about BJP today show that the BJP and NDA alliance will achieve a spectacular victory under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. The entire INDIA alliance, including AAP, has lost its mind,” Rajnath Singh posted on X.
He continued, “The INDI alliance, which cannot decide its leadership, is trying unsuccessfully to speculate about us. The entire NDA alliance, including the BJP, is fighting this Lok Sabha election under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He will become Prime Minister for the third time and complete his term. There is no doubt about this, neither within the BJP nor within the NDA nor in the minds of the countrymen.”
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated that there would be no leadership change, asserting that PM Modi would complete his third term. Shah dismissed claims about Modi’s retirement and affirmed that Modi would continue leading the party and the country.
“The people of this country, from East to West, North to South, are standing with Modi. The leaders of the INDI alliance know we are going to cross 400 seats, and Modi will become the PM for the third time. They are spreading misconceptions. I want to clarify that there is no such provision in BJP’s constitution, and Modi will lead the country till 2029 and beyond. There is no good news for the INDI alliance,” Shah said in Hyderabad.
Addressing Kejriwal’s claim that Shah would become PM if the BJP wins, Shah stated there is no confusion within the BJP regarding leadership. “PM Modi is going to complete this tenure and will continue to lead the country. There is no confusion in BJP,” he added.
BJP national president JP Nadda also dismissed Kejriwal’s remarks about Modi’s “retirement.” Nadda accused Kejriwal and the INDIA bloc of attempting to mislead the country due to their impending electoral failure.
“Kejriwal and the entire INDI alliance have panicked after realizing their failure in the elections. They aim to mislead and confuse the country. Modi Ji is getting immense blessings from people across the country. They have neither policy nor plans in front of the Prime Minister. Now they are looking for a way out by making an excuse of Modi Ji’s age,” Nadda posted on X.