Recent remarks by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat regarding the retirement age for political leaders have ignited a significant political debate in India, particularly concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bhagwat suggested that leaders should consider stepping aside by the age of 75 to allow for new leadership, a sentiment he attributed to late RSS ideologue Moropant Pingle. Specifically, Bhagwat stated, “When you turn 75, it means you should stop now and make way for others,” and recounted Pingle’s view that being honored with a shawl at 75 signals it’s time to retire gracefully.

These comments have drawn considerable attention due to the fact that both Mohan Bhagwat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were born in September 1950, meaning both will turn 75 in the coming year – Bhagwat on September 11, 2025, and PM Modi on September 17, 2025. This alignment has led opposition parties to seize upon Bhagwat’s statement as a direct hint towards PM Modi’s potential retirement.

Congress leaders were quick to react, with Jairam Ramesh sarcastically calling PM Modi a “poor award-winning Prime Minister!” and highlighting the timing of Bhagwat’s reminder. Pawan Khera explicitly called for both PM Modi and Bhagwat to “pick up their bags” and leave their respective offices, suggesting they guide each other instead. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut further fueled the controversy by questioning whether PM Modi would apply the same retirement rule to himself that he reportedly used to sideline senior BJP leaders like LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, and Jaswant Singh once they reached the age of 75.

Raut also reiterated his earlier claim from March, asserting that PM Modi’s visit to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, his first in over a decade, was to discuss his potential retirement. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had previously dismissed this claim, characterizing the visit as routine. Adding to the counter-narrative, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had already dismissed such retirement rumors in May 2023, emphatically stating, “Modi ji will continue to lead till 2029. There is no retirement clause in the BJP constitution.” Despite these denials from the BJP, Bhagwat’s recent remarks have ensured that the discussion around political leadership, age, and succession remains a prominent topic in India’s political landscape.