Just a day after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut indicated the RSS might decide a PMO successor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by September, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis immediately dismissed the speculation, claiming Modi would still be the PM even after the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.
Fadnavis, reacting to Raut's remarks, accused the latter of his "Mughal mindset," adding, "In Indian culture, the juniors do not think this way when seniors are around. It is Mughal culture."
Earlier, Raut had indicated that PM Modi's recent visit to the RSS headquarters was perhaps to inform RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat about his decision to retire. Fadnavis dismissed it, saying, "Modi Ji is our leader, and he will continue to lead in the future. Everyone wants to see Modi Ji as Prime Minister even in 2029. We are not worthy of discussing such matters."
Raut had also pointed out that PM Modi had never visited the RSS headquarters since becoming Prime Minister, adding, "September mein retirement ka application likhne ke liye shayad woh RSS mukhyalay gaye (He may have gone to the RSS headquarters to submit his retirement application)."
Claiming that the Sangh Parivar was looking beyond Modi, Raut told reporters, "From what I understand, the entire Sangh Parivar wants a change in the country’s leadership. PM Modi's time is over."
Interestingly, PM Modi's visit to Nagpur RSS headquarters on Sunday was the first such visit by a sitting PM to the headquarters. The visit has been made at a time when the BJP seems to be rekindling its relationship with its ideological parent RSS, particularly when both the parties are working together in close coordination in order to bring strong victories in Haryana, Maharashtra, and New Delhi, after a strained relationship during the recent Lok Sabha elections.
