Speaking at the Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan—a Congress event focused on the rights and representation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs)—Kharge launched a scathing critique of Modi’s leadership, recalling how the Prime Minister had previously removed senior BJP figures like L. K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi on similar grounds. “He removed them citing the age of 75. Now he is completing 75 years. When will he move out?” Kharge asked rhetorically. “Modi ousted all others. He has nothing to do with the country. He is only worried about his chair.”
Rahul Gandhi, addressing the same gathering, also took a swipe at the Prime Minister’s public image, branding it as inflated and hollow. “Earlier, I had not met him. But now I have met him two or three times. Now I understand—there is nothing,” he remarked. “All show and no substance. The media has inflated the Prime Minister’s balloon, but there’s not much inside.”
Both leaders used the platform to spotlight their outreach to the OBC community. Kharge urged Congress Chief Ministers to roll out new welfare schemes specifically targeting backward castes, suggesting that the party had concrete plans to empower and elevate OBCs. He also lamented the party’s narrow miss in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, asserting, “Had we got 25 more seats, Congress would have been in power.”
In a moment of introspection, Rahul Gandhi acknowledged what he called a “mistake” in not doing enough to safeguard the interests of the OBC community earlier in his political career. “While I can say that I did well in pushing for the Land Acquisition Bill, MGNREGA, Food Security, and the rights of tribals and minorities, I must admit I failed to fully understand and defend the concerns of OBCs. I deserve good marks in some areas, but I lacked in this one,” he confessed.
He praised the Telangana government’s recent socio-economic caste survey, calling it a “political earthquake” whose full aftershocks are yet to be felt across the national landscape. “It has shaken the political ground of the country,” he said, signaling that caste-based data and social justice would remain central to the Congress’ future political pitch.
These comments come against the backdrop of a growing buzz surrounding RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remark suggesting a leadership retirement age of 75—an idea that has stirred both curiosity and controversy. With Modi nearing the milestone, opposition parties are keen to frame the moment as one of accountability, referencing BJP’s own 2015 introduction of the Margdarshak Mandal, a symbolic council meant to sideline senior leaders above 75 years of age.
Political observers note that Bhagwat’s comment may be a subtle nudge rather than a command—an attempt to initiate a long-discussed generational shift within the BJP. But given Modi’s towering stature and firm grip on power, few believe he will step down voluntarily. Even within the RSS, Bhagwat’s leverage to enforce such a transition is seen as limited.
Despite internal tensions between the BJP and its ideological parent, the RSS, the party has maintained a public image of cohesion. Behind the scenes, however, BJP’s increasing autonomy and perceived personality-driven politics—centered around Modi—have unsettled Sangh leadership, particularly after BJP President J. P. Nadda’s 2024 statement that the party was now “self-reliant” and no longer dependent on the RSS.
The Congress is now trying to capitalize on this moment of ideological friction. The question—”Will Modi retire at 75?”—is being turned into a political litmus test by the opposition, one that attempts to challenge not only Modi’s leadership but also the broader internal dynamics of the BJP-RSS equation.
Yet all signs point to Modi staying put. Known for his unrelenting hold on the party and its narrative, he has shown no public sign of preparing for a succession. The ‘Modi factor’ continues to dominate Indian politics, and until someone within the BJP or the Sangh has the clout to challenge him, the prospect of his stepping down remains theoretical at best.
As the political theatre unfolds, Modi’s looming 75th birthday is now more than a personal milestone—it has become a national talking point with implications for leadership, ideology, and the future direction of Indian politics.