Karnataka Congress MLA Pitches Nitin Gadkari For Prime Minister, Cites RSS' Age-Limit Remark

Last Updated:July 13, 2025, 23:54 IST

Karnataka Congress MLA Belur Gopalakrishna has suggested Nitin Gadkari as the ideal successor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, should he step down on turning 75 years of age.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari (PTI)

Karnataka Congress MLA Belur Gopalakrishna has hit the headlines after he suggested Union Minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari as an ideal and worthy successor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While speaking to the reporters, the Congress legislator said that Gadkari should become the Prime Minister of the country if PM Modi steps down on turning 75 years of age.

Praising Gadkari, Gopalakrishna said that the Union Minister has done good work for the development and is connected to common man.

“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 said as quoted by news agency PTI.

The Congress leader also referred to a recent speech by Gadkari in which the Union Minister reportedly voiced concern about the widening wealth gap in the country, stating that the rich are becoming richer while the poor struggle to survive.

“Considering this, it comes across that he has a concept (for development of the country) and such people should be made (the PM)," he added.

The legislator’s remarks came in response to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent statements regarding leaders stepping aside at the age of 75. During an event in Nagpur earlier this week, Bhagwat referenced Sangh ideologue Moropant Pingley’s principle of stepping down from positions of power after 75. While the RSS chief did not name any individuals, his statement has reignited debates around internal BJP succession planning.

Further taking a jibe at BJP leadership, Gopalakrishna accused the saffron camp of applying double standards when it came to age limits in leadership. Claiming that veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa was made to resign as Chief Minister of Karnataka after he turned 75, the Congress MLA said none of BJP leaders are speaking about Modi.

“The BJP’s sinners made him (Yediyurappa) resign with tears in his eyes. He was a senior leader who built BJP and brought it to power in the state. Why a different rule for Modi ji?" Gopalakrishna asked.

“If Modi could apply this rule to Yediyurappa, then surely it should apply to himself too. Mohan Bhagwat has only reiterated that leaders should step aside after 75. So, I believe the time has come for someone like Gadkari to take over," he added.

(With inputs from PTI)

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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Karnataka, India, India

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News politics Karnataka Congress MLA Pitches Nitin Gadkari For Prime Minister, Cites RSS' Age-Limit Remark