Nagpur: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent comment about retiring at the age of 75 has triggered intense political speculation, especially regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is set to turn 75 this September, just six days after Bhagwat himself.
Speaking at a book release event dedicated to late RSS ideologue Moropant Pingle in Nagpur on Wednesday evening, Bhagwat said:
“When you turn 75, it means you should stop now and make way for others.”
He recalled Pingle’s humorous approach toward aging and public honours, saying:
“Moropant Pingle once said that if you are honoured with a shawl after turning 75, it means that you should stop now, you are old; step aside and let others come in.”
Bhagwat added that Pingle, despite his deep commitment to national service, believed in graceful withdrawal when age signaled it was time.
🔥 Political Reactions Spark Speculation About Modi
Opposition leaders quickly pounced on the statement, seeing it as a veiled message aimed at Prime Minister Modi.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut remarked:
“PM Modi forced leaders like LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, and Jaswant Singh to retire after they turned 75. Let’s see if he applies the same rule to himself now.”
Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi commented:
“Preaching without practice is always dangerous. It is unprincipled that the Margdarshak Mandal was given compulsory retirement applying the 75 years age limit but indications are clear that current dispensation will be exempted from this rule.”
Raut also repeated his earlier claim that Modi’s March visit to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur—his first in over a decade—was potentially linked to discussions around retirement, though the BJP denied it, calling the visit “routine.”
🗣️ Amit Shah, RSS Traditions, and Internal Party Dynamics
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had previously stated in May 2023:
“Modi ji will continue to lead till 2029. There’s no truth in retirement rumours. The INDIA bloc won’t win the upcoming elections with lies.”
On the same day as Bhagwat’s comments, Shah himself spoke about his own retirement aspirations, saying:
“I would like to dedicate my time to the Vedas, Upanishads and organic farming,” though he did not specify any retirement timeline.
RSS tradition, however, shows that leaders only step down due to serious health concerns, with past chiefs like Balasaheb Deoras, Rajju Bhaiyya, and K S Sudarshan resigning only when physically unfit—all at ages above 75.
A senior RSS swayamsevak stated:
“There’s a tradition in the Sangh. No sarsanghchalak has stepped down unless physically unfit… Both Bhagwat and Modi are physically fit and continue to serve effectively.”
RSS commentator Dilip Deodhar dismissed the possibility of either stepping aside soon:
“This debate will fade. Bhagwat had clarified five years ago that Modi would be an exception to the 75-year norm.”
⚔️ RSS vs BJP: Power Struggle Behind the Scenes?
A senior BJP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that the remark may reflect an ongoing power struggle between RSS and BJP, particularly over leadership roles like the next BJP president post-2024 elections.
“It indicated that the BJP and RSS were still trying to establish their own dominance,” the leader said.
Whether Bhagwat’s remark signals a larger ideological shift or was merely a tribute to Moropant Pingle, one thing is certain: the comment has reignited questions about leadership succession in the Sangh Parivar and within the ruling establishment.