News Brief
Prime Minster Narendra Modi with Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. (Gurpreet Singh/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Karnataka Congress MLA Belur Gopalakrishna has proposed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s successor if Modi steps down after turning 75, citing RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent remark on age limits for leaders, reported The Indian Express.
Bhagwat, speaking at an event in Nagpur on Wednesday (9 July), had referred to Sangh ideologue Moropant Pingley’s principle of stepping aside at 75.
“Gadkari should be the next Prime Minister of the country, the reason is Gadkari is with the common man. He has done good work for the development of the country, in terms of highways and other things. The people of the country know his service and the kind of person he is,” Gopalakrishna told reporters on Saturday (12 July).
He highlighted a statement reportedly made by Gadkari expressing concern for the poor while noting the widening gap between rich and poor.
Pointing to BJP’s treatment of veteran leader B S Yediyurappa, who resigned as Karnataka’s chief minister after turning 75, Gopalakrishna questioned the double standard.
“The BJP’s sinners made him (Yediyurappa) resign with tears in his eyes... Why different treatment to Modi ji? Wasn’t it under Modi’s instruction Yediyurappa was made to step down?”