New Delhi: Nishikant Dubey is known to speak his mind, not caring about any controversy his comments may trigger.
Not just the Opposition, BJP’s Lok Sabha MP from Jharkhand’s Godda constituency doesn’t hesitate to talk about his own party also.
On Friday, Dubey said in an interview with news agency ANI that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi stops leading the BJP, the party will not win even 150 seats in Lok Sabha elections.
In the 2024 polls, BJP won 240 seats in the 542-strong Lok Sabha, and formed the government at the Centre for the third time under Modi, albeit with the help of NDA allies to reach the magic figure of 272.
Asked who could succeed Modi as the country’s and the party’s leader, Dubey said, “For the next 15-20 years, I can only see Modi, and it is not only because he is the Prime Minister.”
Justifying his claim, Dubey said: “When PM Modi came, a vote bank which was never with BJP, especially the poor section of society, shifted towards the party and their devotion shifted to Modi ji. Today, Modi ji is Prime Minister for the third time.”
Dubey added BJP will have no option but to fight the next general election (2029) too under Modi’s leadership.
“If PM Modi is not our leader, then mark my words, the BJP will not be able to win even 150 seats. It is BJP’s majboori (compulsion) that it has to contest 2029 elections also under the leadership of Modi. Today, people like and the workers need Modi, he doesn’t need us,” Dubey said.
Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of BJP’s ideological parent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), recently said that leaders should step down after turning 75 to make way for others.
Modi will be turning 75 in two months’ time, and will be 78 years old by the time the next Lok Sabha elections come around.
Addressing the age issue, Dubey said age is not a barrier when it comes to holding the position of Prime Minister, citing the example of Morarji Desai.
“If you want a developed India by 2047, you should choose Modiji till he’s well. And it has happened before, at the age of 83, Morarji Desai was made the Prime Minister,” Dubey said.
