Who will succeed Modi come 2025?

A circle is completed only when its ends meet, which means that every start has a probable end. Thus, the legend that carried his political journey of facilitating public interests as a priority might soon be at the end of his career as the PM of India. The land might soon witness a tectonic shift of political lineages, leading to the question of who will be the next public protector. Who will be the next Prime Minister?

PM Narendra Modi, a man with the principles of serving the masses, has been among the world’s most popular politicians. His prevalence has been accomplished with the expectations of nearly 1.4 billion people, who have developed trust in his so far 8 years of tenure. However, the world’s largest democratic country is now on the verge of looking for an equally compatible Prime Minister.

As PM Modi has turned over 70 years of age, there is a buzzing debate about whether he will remain at the helm of his current authoritarianism even after 2025. This discourse erupted with the BJP’s own unwritten rule of retiring politicians from ministerial positions after their attainment of 75 years of age. It became evident with a report published by the Hindustan Times in 2019 of Amit Shah saying, “Only the media is pushing this issue. No one above 75 has been given tickets. This is the party’s decision.”

In this context, it is pertinent to note that if BJP wins the parliamentary elections of 2024 and Modi becomes the Prime Minister, there is a chance that he might step down from the post on 17 September 2025, due to his completion of 75 years of age. However, it can only happen if BJP abides by its unwritten rule, which is most likely to happen. Therefore, here is the list of probable candidates that can attain the Prime Ministerial post in 2025.

Amit Shah

The perception that Amit Shah is the right hand of PM Modi is substantiated by broad spectrum of facts. His recurrent efforts in supporting PM Modi in almost every decision paved the way for his anticipated candidature as the next Prime Minister.

Businessman turned politician, Shah, made people realize the power of the one behind the throne. His strategic efforts for the expansion of the BJP led him to be called the “modern-day Chanakya”. His unthinkable political tactics culminated in a massive victory for BJP in the 2014 – 2019 general elections.

The word ‘Operation Lotus’ first came to the fore in 2008. G. Janardhana Reddy, former Karnataka Minister, but the credit for taking it to an unseen height goes to the Modi-Shah duo, who adopted the strategy in full might.

In his stint as Home Minister, Shah has done several things in favour of the nation. He was the main catalyst behind the decision to repel Article 370. Amit Shah was the one who proposed the declaration of Jammu and Kashmir as an independent Union Territory and Ladakh as another one.

Apart from this, during the construction of Ram Mandir, it was felt by many that the decision will be followed with fierce and violent retaliation by people. However, the country was followed by peace under the Union Home Affairs Minister.

In late 2019, Shah introduced the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which grants Indian citizenship to religiously persecuted minorities who migrated to the country before 2015 from the Muslim-majority countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Various such decisions showcasing his penchant for the development of India clear the fog around his probable candidature as the next Prime Minister of India.

Yogi Adityanath

A sage with a political regime broke the notion that only “suit wearers” can claim the throne. With various exemplified tactics, Yogi Adityanath changed the entire stereotypical image of Uttar Pradesh. He performed a spectacular role by controlling the law and order in the state.

After assuming power, CM Yogi has categorically taken on different criminal elements head-on with significant success. In addition, the state cabinet approved a tough law called the UPCOCA (Uttar Pradesh Control of Organized Crime Act) to fight the Mafia. Yogi made UP free some severe issues related to land mafia, sand mafia, illegal mining, cow smuggling, human trafficking, kidnapping, manufacturing liquor, terrorism and education mafia.

This development was followed with incessant investment in Uttar Pradesh. As per a report published by Business Standard in 2021, CM Yogi’s policies shaped up a dozen departments in order to invite investments and brought nearly 186 reforms into effect. As a result, 156 companies invested Rs 48,707 crore to start manufacturing, which led to generation of over one lakh employment in the state.

After the swearing of the incumbent CM, Uttar Pradesh has completely changed its facet of development. The people started receiving electricity for 12 hours, which was earlier a mere fantasy.

A Sadhu governing the state without any greed, he dedicated his life to serving the people of UP and this made him a popular face among generations. With the passage of each governing day, Yogi Adityanath’s prospect for being appropriate choice as the successor of PM Modi keeps growing.

Himanta Biswa Sarma

Undoubtedly, the incumbent Chief Minister of Assam is emerging as a politically and electorally astute figure. Himanta is the one who probably made the dream of the BJP about expanding its footprints in the north eastern states of India come true.

To add more, Sarma has been correcting historical wrongs at an unprecedented pace. In what seems to be a state wide drive against illegal encroachers, the Assam government is having swathes of land vacated from the clutches of Bangladeshi immigrants.

Himanta Biswa holds some of the most important and crucial portfolios of finance, education, and health. He stood on his ability to lead successful electoral campaigns even in tough terrains. More crucially, despite his belongingness to the Far East, he fits right into the BJP’s spectrum of politics.

Under the leadership of Sarma, Assam has seen some incredible development. He worked for the speedy construction of medical colleges, universities, model degree colleges, engineering colleges and many more in the state.

The BJP’s representative of Assam facilitates the consideration of his name as the apparent Prime Minister in 2025.

Devendra Fadnavis

The popularity of Fadnavis is for obvious reasons. It was Devendra who took BJP on a deep-dived spree to tilt Maharashtrians towards the saffron party. In little to no time, he became a powerful leader through his incessant developmental efforts in Maharashtra. He successfully accomplished various connectivity projects including roads through the harbour and sea links. His push for tourism is also imperative. He has been a great success as CM both administratively and politically.

While Devendra Fadnavis was in power, he worked immensely for various sectors including infrastructure. He even restarted the plan of building the metro network, which was a long held project under the congress regime.

From last few years, Devendra Fadnavis has been seen as a master of winning votes. It was under Fadnavis that BJP increased its tally in BMC from just 31 to 81 in the 2017 elections. Though, he was made the deputy CM during Shiv Sena and Eknath Shinde crisis, but his popularity and command in the party didn’t alter. It was Fadnavis, who took the flagship of expanding the reign of BJP in Maharashtra.

Indeed, Fadnavis is a great politician and if he is handed over the responsibility of Prime Ministerial chair, he will take the nation to greater heights with his pragmatism.

Without a doubt, PM Narendra Modi is a role model figure, which probably every politician would like to imitate. However, a new face at the existing PM chair will bring in new facets of development. In the same context, all the aforementioned candidates for the 2025 Prime Ministerial seat have contributed massively toward the growth of India. However, it still remains a question over who will lead the premier responsibility of leading the world’s largest democracy.