As Trump wins, BJP sees long political innings for Modi
Donald Trump's victory in the US Presidential election on Wednesday saw the ruling BJP in India throw strong hints of the longevity of Narendra Modi in the party's leadership role as its prime ministerial face.
"At 78, Donald Trump ran for the White House and secured a second term. Prime Minister Modi will be 79 in 2029," BJP's chief social media strategist Amit Malviya said on Wednesday after Trump defeated Kamala Harris, his Democratic rival, who is 18 years younger to him.
"Trump has proved that age is just a number and that you can turn the tide with your tenacity and resilience. PM Modi has a long way to go in Indian politics," a BJP leader said.
The remarks came at a time when Modi's age has become a matter of speculation with rival parties asking if the 75-year cap for active political innings, as applicable to other saffron veterans LK Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi and Sumitra Mahajan, will apply to Modi.
Modi turns 75 in 2025, with the BJP categorically stating that those in a physically fit state to serve will continue to serve and there's no official age cap for those in active politics.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had triggered the Modi age controversy when he claimed that Modi would retire next year upon reaching 75 and pass the baton to Amit Shah.
But insiders in the BJP say Modi is here to stay at least for the while.
Trump's win at 78 just gave Modi backers a major prop with which to beat the age cap narrative.
They said the BJP's entire future political plan and government's future course was being drafted -- Viksit Bharat @ 2047 on the outer side and five years of Modi 3.0 by 2029 on the inner side.
Modi himself threw the biggest hint of his longer stay in Indian politics this March when he publicly said: "You people are stuck at 2029, I am planning for 2047."
