03 February,2011 06:51 AM IST | | Sanjeev Devasia
After Sonia Gandhi lauds decision to retire from politics at 64, should CM Prithviraj Chavan, several other netas in their 60s take the hint?
Congressu00a0President Sonia Gandhi's veiled message to politicians to quit after a certain age and not 'cling on to wealth and positions' could well set the cat among the pigeons in the state's political scene.
On Tuesday, Gandhi had lauded the decision of late Chaudhary Ranbir Singh, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's father, to take voluntary retirement at the age of 64 (see box).
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MiD DAY decided to take that age as a benchmark and examine how some senior Congress ministers in the state cabinet measure up.
The biggest casualty, should the rule ever be enforced, would be the acknowledged darling of the Gandhis Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan who turns 65 this year. Having assumed the post just last year, it could come as a big blow to him.
Chavan can, however, take solace from many of his more senior counterparts. Among the senior-most state Congress leaders holding a constitutional post is Shivajirao Deshmukh, chairman of the State Legislative Council, who turns 76 in September.
Giving Deshmukh competition is Dairy Development and Animal Husbandry Minister Madhukarrao Chavan, who will turn 74 in August, making him the eldest minister in the state cabinet.
Closely following him is Forest Minister Patangrao Kadam, who has turned 67, and Social Justice and Welfare of Nomadic Tribes Minister Shivajirao Moghe, who turns 66 in March.
None of the ministers, however, seem eager to retire from politics and Kadam has, in fact, been vying unsuccessfully for the top post in the state for the last several years.
The party, too, can't afford to let him go as heu00a0 is one among the few heavyweights in Western Maharashtra.
Different strokes
There seems to be ambiguity in the party ranks over what Gandhi actually meant by her statement.
"The Congress president was hinting to the members of the old guard that their days are over and they should make a graceful exit without creating problems for the High Command.
She wants to reshuffle the AICC and may be looking at replacing several of the old lot with fresh, young faces.
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This is just to warn people in advance and ensure there is no rebellion from those replaced," said a Congress leader.
Congress state spokesperson Anant Gadgil, however, offered a completely different view.
He claimed that what Gandhi meant was, "Politicians should decide when to retire on their own, when they reach a certain age and if they are physically and mentally saturated.
She was not referring to anybody in particular or to a particular age bracket as such. It is for the politicians to decide when to retire.
The Congress president wants younger people to come up as they have fresh ideas. But, at the same time, experience also counts in a political party."
The statement
Releasing a postal stamp in the memory of Chaudhary Ranbir Singh, a member of the Constituent Assembly and a distinguished parliamentarian, Congress President Sonia Gandhi applauded his decision to take voluntary retirement at the age of 64, suggesting that people today hankered for power and privilege well beyond their years.
Sonia said, "The biggest thing is that he chose to retire from politics at the age of 64. Power and wealth is not everything. There is a limit to that pleasure.
It can be sought only to an extent. After that, it is only temptation and greed an illusion that the world is pursuing.
When we remember our freedom fighters, it should also be remembered that if they had gone after luxury and fallen for temptation and greed, they could not have done anything for the country's Independence."
