Older politicians must keep off active posts: Dwivedi

‘I am not saying that leaders should retire from politics’

Politicians should not occupy “active” posts once they cross a certain age, Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said here on Thursday. He described “active” posts as those that are demanding and entail a hectic schedule.

His remark comes against the backdrop of talk of a generational shift in the 128-year-old party, and 48 hours after the BJP signalled the retirement of its old guard by dropping Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi from the party’s powerful Parliamentary Board.

In the Congress there has been speculation that when the reshuffle of its top functionaries will take place, some of the older general secretaries may be replaced by younger people.

Interestingly, it was a question on the BJP that prompted Mr. Dwivedi to comments on his own party, nine days short of his 69th birthday.

Asked at what age politicians should take up less demanding roles, he said, “That is for parties to decide. It could be 65 or 70..” He, however, hastily added — when asked whether this would apply to Congress president Sonia Gandhi — that there could always be exceptions such as presidents of political parties, the President of India, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister. Ms. Gandhi will turn 68 in December.

Pointing out that in all professions — and even within families —- the baton is handed down from the older to the younger generation, he stressed, “Similar generational change is also necessary in politics. After a certain age, people should not be in active posts in a political organisation.”

Mr. Dwivedi said that he was not saying that leaders should retire from politics. “I am not saying that they should retire, but the posts that require a lot of running around and physical capacity should be held by younger people. There are other responsibilities that older leaders can take up.”

Asked whether he was in agreement with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s comment that those above 70 should retire from active politics, Mr. Dwivedi said he wasn’t talking about retirement but about “making a distinction between active posts and other responsibilities.”