'BJP needs new blood, those over 70 should retire'

Nagpur, May 13: Asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) needed new blood to meet ''new challenges,'' Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue M G Vaidya today said those who have crossed the age of 70 in the party should retire from active politics.

In his weekly column in local Marathi daily 'Tarun Bharat,' Mr Vaidya said one thing was felt very clearly from the outcome of the recent Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh (UP) that the BJP needed young leadership to meet the ''new challenges.'' The BJP high command must be aware of the excellent work being done by the party's young leaders in Maharashtra, Mr Vaidya said.

Mr Nanaji Deshmukh (a veteran leader) retired from politics as soon as he completed 60 years of age, he said.

''It is not necessary to retire at age 60. Yet, it would be appropriate if those who have crossed 70 opted for retirement from politics,'' Mr Vaidya said without naming anyone.

''He said retirement did not mean sitting idle. it meant giving a chance to new people and letting them derive benefits from the vast experience of the retirees,'' the RSS ideologue added.

The outcome in UP also showed that although the BJP had returned to its original ideology of Hinduism, it had not stabilised there, he said. The BJP's endorsement of Hinduism not only prevented it from appealing to caste feelings, but also, in fact, helped it rise above the differences and take everyone along, Mr Vaidya claimed, adding ''castes are, ultimately, part of the larger Hindu society.'' The BJP must, therefore, never abandon the all-encompassing character that gave it a different identity and was also in national interest, he said.

Mr Vaidya said the BJP must also make efforts to maintain its image of being a ''party with a difference,'' The alleged involvement of the BJP MP in human trafficking had damaged the party's reputation, he added. The BJP had a clean image and, therefore, could not give the excuse that every party had people with a criminal bent of mind, he said. ''Even a small blot on a dazzling white cloth stands out prominently. This is what has happened with the BJP. People get a feeling that in the end, all political parties are the same. This may have damaged the Party's chances in UP in the last phase of polling,'' Mr Vaidya added.

Although the BJP's organisational set-up was better than other parties, especially the Congress, it must give serious thought to the reorganisation of its units in various states in view of the Lok Sabha polls due in two years, he asserted.

Mr Vaidya said new UP Chief Minister Mayawati could emerge as a new force at the national level if she decided to repeat her politics of caste harmony, which gave her success in UP, in other states of the country.

The outcome in UP was also important in view of the Presidential elections due in July, Mr Vaidya said. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) were matched almost neck to neck in terms of the value of the votes that they have in the electoral college, he said. The voters from UP could tilt the balance either way, since their individual votes had the highest value in the country, he said.

UNI