Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday clarified that there would be no change in the BJP’s leadership and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will continue to lead the country during his third term.
His remarks came after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal pointed out the possibility of Modi’s retirement in September when the prime minister will turn 75.
"I want to say this to Arvind Kejriwal and his company and the INDI alliance that nothing as such is mentioned in the BJP's constitution. PM Modi is going to complete this tenure and he will continue to lead the country in the future. There is no confusion in the BJP," Shah said in Hyderabad.
Kejriwal’s while addressing a press conference earlier in the day, had questioned who would be the BJP’s prime minister, pointing to the unwritten rule of the saffron party which had set a 75 year age bar for its leaders for retiring from active politics.
"These people ask the INDIA alliance who will be their prime minister. I ask BJP who will be your prime minister? PM Modi is turning 75 on September 17. He made a rule that leaders in the party would retire after 75 years,” Kejriwal said.
“He (Modi) is not seeking votes for himself, he is actually seeking votes to make Amit Shah the prime minister. Who will fulfil Modi's guarantee? Will it be Amit Shah?” the AAP leader further asked.
Kejriwal also cited the examples of BJP veterans like L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sumitra Mahajan, and Yashwant Sinha who have retired from electoral politics.
Shah, however, said there is no such provision in the party’s constitution and that Modi will continue to lead the country in the future.
"The people of this country, be it from East, West, North, South or Northeast, they are standing with Modi. All the leaders of the INDI alliance know that we are going to cross 400 seats and Modi ji will become the PM of this country for the third time, that is why they are spreading this type of misconception,” the home minister said.
