Amit Shah vs Akhilesh Yadav: BJP’s 12 Crore Workers vs SP’s 5 Family Members Jibe Sparks Political Row

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Amit Shah vs Akhilesh Yadav: A fiery exchange erupted in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a sharp dig at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav over his remarks on the delay in electing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) new national president. Shah defended his party’s democratic process, contrasting it with the alleged dynastic politics of the opposition.

“When our party elects a president, the voices of 12 crore workers matter. In your party, only five people from one family decide the leader,” Shah remarked, responding to Yadav’s question on why BJP was taking time to announce its new chief.

The statement ignited a heated debate, with Shah further challenging Yadav, saying, “I can declare right here that you will remain your party’s president for 25 years because no one else can replace you.”

Akhilesh Yadav Hits Back with Retirement Jibe

Akhilesh Yadav, quick to counter Shah’s remarks, brought up a recent visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur on March 30. Yadav cryptically hinted at speculation that Modi’s visit was linked to the BJP’s unwritten rule of retiring leaders at 75 years of age.

“There’s another interesting matter—about a certain yatra and whether it was meant to extend the retirement age beyond 75 years,” Yadav quipped, subtly referring to comments made by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who claimed that Modi’s visit to RSS HQ was to discuss his political future.

BJP’s Presidential Puzzle

The debate in Parliament comes amid intense speculation about who will take over as BJP’s national president after J.P. Nadda. While the party remains tight-lipped on the successor, the delay has given opposition leaders an opportunity to question BJP’s internal leadership structure.

Shah’s assertion that BJP follows a rigorous democratic process contrasts with accusations by opposition parties that the party is increasingly centralized around a few top leaders. However, BJP leaders argue that their organizational strength, backed by millions of grassroots workers, makes leadership transitions a meticulous process.

Dynasty Politics vs Democratic Elections

The verbal duel between Shah and Yadav once again brought the issue of dynastic politics versus internal democracy into the spotlight. While BJP has long targeted opposition parties like SP, Congress, and the Trinamool Congress for being family-run outfits, opposition leaders argue that BJP, too, concentrates power in the hands of a few.

As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections draw closer, such exchanges are expected to intensify, with each party attempting to paint the other in a negative light. For now, BJP continues its process of selecting a new president, while opposition leaders continue to question the delay.

With political temperatures rising, all eyes remain on BJP’s next move and whether PM Modi himself will break the silence on his retirement rumors.