If I said to you that the frenetic pace of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's travels, (2007) when one of his younger comrades expressed surprise that he did "such vile I Prime Narendra Modi's expressed did and speech-making in distant places marks the launch of the campaign for the general elections, you would most certainly ask me, "So what's the big deal? Don't we all know the campaign is on? After all, the elections are just weeks away." Good question. Except the campaign we are talking about is not for 2024. That, the Modi-Shah Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) considers as signed, sealed, locked in its vault. The campaign we are talking about is for 2029. And that is not only because we already have the evidence of public statements by two BJP stalwarts.
First, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Darbhanga that voters should take a pledge to elect Narendra Modi not just for a third, but also for a fourth term for India to end poverty. Then, Home Minister and BJP playmaker Amit Shah said at a media conclave that the Opposition should now be making plans only for 2034 onwards.
Add the two and it means Mr Modi will be in the contest for an unprecedented, consecutive fourth term in 2029. If you are among those who still harbour the illusion that there is a 75year retirement age in the BJP, consider the fielding of Hema Malini in Mathura for a third term at 75.
If you ask BJP people, they will ask you, "Whoever told you there was an age limit?" Nevertheless, her nomination is as clear an indication as you can get that there is no 75-year cut-off. And if she can contest at 75, who'd grudge Mr Modi at 79 (as he will be in 2029). He would still be about two years younger than Joe Biden today, and two years older than Donald Trump. If one of them can be the US President at that vintage, why not Mr Modi?
Denne historien er fra March 09, 2024-utgaven av Business Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra March 09, 2024-utgaven av Business Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Indians prefer credit over debit card for high-value payments
In June 2024, India saw a significant increase in the number of credit, debit, and prepaid cards, reaching a total of 1.451 billion cards—an 11 per cent jump from the previous year, according to the India Digital Payments report for the first half of 2024 (January to June) by payment technology service provider Worldline.
An Indian anthropologist ahead of her time
Urmilla Deshpande set out to work on a novel about an Indian woman in Germany in the 1920s based on her grandmother Irawati Karve when she stumbled on the opportunity to write her biography.
IAF plane makes inaugural landing at upcoming Navi Mumbai airport
An Airbus C-295 of the Indian Air Force (IAF) touched down at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIAL) on Friday, marking the formal inaugural flight landing at the place. A Sukhoi SU-30 fighter jet did a low fly-by at the airport to test the 3.7-km long runway in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, his deputy Devendra Fadnavis and Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Co-operation.
Less than 33% of youth can search Net, transact online
Less than a third of those in the 15-29 age group can \"search the internet; send or receive an email and perform an online transaction\", show the findings from the latest Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS), released by National Statistical Office (NSO) this week.
TCS shares dip as analysts offer mixed outlook
IT sector is expected to grow considerably from Q4 FY25 onwards
NSE retains Nifty 50 for weekly contracts
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has opted for the Nifty 50 index for issuing weekly option contracts following the Securities Exchange Board of India (Sebi's) one-exchange-one-benchmark mandate.
Compare lenders' costs; higher rates can offset benefits of offers
Footfall, enquiries, and bookings at car dealerships are rising, driven by attractive offers and promotions. These special deals typically start in October and run until the New Year.
Noel's appointment as Tata Trusts' chair signals continuity: Analysts
It will be business as usual for Tata group stocks post Noel Naval Tata's appointment as chair of Tata Trusts, said analysts. They added that the development will signal continuity.
Sebi intervenes in ₹45cr Trafiksol IPO irregularity
To undertake detailed examination into disclosures by the firm
India-focused funds log first weekly redemption in 19 mths
China resurgence, expensive valuation dim India appeal; midcap funds see 14th week of outflows