Lok Sabha Polls 2024: ‘New govt in June, no need to wait for Modi's retirement in September 2025,’ says Shashi Tharoor

Senior Congress leader has stated that Prime Minister will not continue as India's leader beyond June 4, when the 2024 Lok Sabha election results are announced, PTI reported. This came amid speculation about Modi's anticipated tenure till September 2025, when he turns 75.

"A new government will come to power at the Centre in June. There is no need to wait till September 2025," Tharoor said. He was responding to a query on Aam Admi Party (AAP) chief 's remarks that Modi would retire post his 75th birthday — as is the precedent set by other senior BJP leaders over the years.

Kejriwal, while speaking to the media on May 12, suggested that Modi is endorsing Home Minister as his successor after his "retirement" at the age of 75 in September 2025.

Responding to queries about Modi's "retirement age," Tharoor questioned whether BJP would make an exception for him and speculated that Modi's tenure might conclude after the upcoming .

"Will BJP make the exception for one person? Anyway, we need not have to wait till September 2025. Modi will not be PM after June 2024 (when the results of Lok Sabha will be out)," he said.

Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Tharoor criticised Modi for the standard of "public discourse and language used by him", adding that it "is not good for the country".

The three-term MP from Thiruvananthapuram also defended his party's decision to abstain from attending the consecration ceremony of the new Ram temple in Ayodhya earlier this year.

Tharoor said that the BJP “doesn't have copyright on Lord Ram", and added, “I go to temples for praying and not for doing politics. They are misusing the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony in for politics. Should I surrender Lord Ram to BJP?"

He also attacked the ruling