Will Modi contest in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections? PM has an answer

With several opinion polls claiming Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will sweep the elections, it is talked about whether the Prime Minister will retire from electoral politics after this following the party's cut-off age policy.

Modi, now 73, will turn 78, three years more than the cut-off age of BJP to hold any administrative post in central or state government, if the saffron camp comes to power and completes its tenure.

When asked by Times Now whether he would in 2029, the Prime Minister says, "In politics, people come and go. No country should run on the basis of one person. Modi would never want that the Nation runs squarely on the basis of Modi.

"My Nation is full of jewels. Innumerable jewels have been born here and will continue to be born and the Nation will move forward."

Earlier speaking to ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Defence Minister and BJP veteran Rajnath Singh strongly favoured Modi at the top job beyond 2024.

"Where is Modi-ji going? Why are you worrying? Modi-ji is going to stay. He will be at the job till the time he is active and the country wants," Singh had said.

Modi on Muslim quota

In the same interview with Times Now, Modi touched upon a key issue of Muslim quota that has created a stir in the national politics involving the primary opposition camp, Congress.

Modi has strongly opposed reservations on the basis of religion, amid the ongoing debate over the Muslim quota in the Lok Sabha elections.

The Prime Minister said the poor, which include Hindus, Christians, Parsis as well, should get reservations.

Modi said as quoted by several media, "I have never said that Muslims won't get reservations. All I'm saying is that religion cannot be the basis of providing reservation. Poor in the country include all Hindus, Christians, and Parsis; all should get the benefits of reservations.

"Dalits and tribals for long have faced injustice for thousands of years, and there is a special reason that the makers of our constitution have taken the right decision, and we are grateful for that. No political party opposes this."

The Prime Minister said, "When the Constitution was written at that time, leaders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Babasaheb Ambedkar, and Rajendra Babu were all there; there was no one from the RSS or BJP and there were also representatives from all communities.

"After a lengthy discussion, it was decided that reservation based on religion would be detrimental to society and would not be good for the long term. Social evils were faced by communities of tribals and Dalits for years."

"Untouchability and discrimination took place. Injustice was done to a very large section of society on the basis of birth. It was necessary to undo the wrongs, and it is important to note that this was done by Sanatanis, apart from Nehru ji, who may think of himself above them," he added.