Amit Shah is asserting that Modi ji will continue to be the Prime Minister even after crossing 75 years of age. What is you view about it?

What else he is supposed to say? I am not sure whether he has been advised to make such an assertion by Modi Ji himself or if he said it to please Modi Ji. Sriman Narendra Modi Ji has been famous for taking so many famous U-turns. How does it matter if he takes one more U-turn? For the last 23 years and particularly the last 10 years, he has been living in absolute luxury and unquestioned authority in the part as well as in the government. He is definitely going to find it extremely difficult to relinquish his power if the BJP manages to win the 2024 general election. He may not allow someone else to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

In fact, Amit Shah may himself try to convince Modi Ji to remain PM for the entire next term. This could be for so many reasons. It would always be better for him to be Modi’s deputy than to become someone else’s deputy. If Amit Shah doesn’t see the possibility of being promoted to become PM, he would always want Modi to remain PM.

Amit Shah has already made one mistake in 2020 going overboard on NRC while Modi himself announced that there would be no nationwide NRC. That and today Amit Shah has not been able to get back his position of authority either in the party or in the government as it was earlier. So Amit Shah wouldn’t repeat his mistake. He will definitely not make any indication that he is hankering after the PM’s chair. He will and he has to show absolute loyalty to Modi Ji no matter whatsoever is in his mind.

BJP's power structure is not like earlier in 2019. Modi Ji holds the entire power singularly in his hand. The party affairs are being looked after by J P Nadda. Nobody knows which side he will tilt if Modi decides to demit office. J P Nadda is cleverly maintaining distance from both Jogi and Amit Shah. Amit Shah has been kept away from the power equation since 2020. J P Nadda is at the forefront. Not that Nadda is all-powerful. He may get fired if he makes a small mistake. J P Nadda knows his power and position very clearly. So it's natural that Amit Shah playing very safe and trying to be in the good books of Modi Ji. This time he is not going to make any mistakes in a hurry. Plus I believe all his moves are being tracked. He can not make any extra moves to consolidate his position. There is hardly any room to exert his position. Also, this could be his way of checking Modi’s mind without taking any risk. Modi Ji can't not feel offended that his Bhakts want him to continue. And at this moment he will not contradict also, else it could damage BJP's prospects.

There is a high possibility that Modi would like to remain as long as he wants. And neither Yogi nor Amit Shah may be his replacement even if he steps down from office. Someone like Nirmala Sitharaman might be made the PM, which means Modi will remain the defacto PM. The arrangement could be something similar to that of the UPA government. I do not expect Modi to take retirement and do nothing.