'Graceful Choice': Priyanka Chaturvedi Backs Deve Gowda's Retirement, Calls For More Youth In Politics

Published 9 June 2026 · politics

'Graceful Choice': Priyanka Chaturvedi Backs Deve Gowda's Retirement, Calls For More Youth In Politics Published By, Last Updated: June 09, 2026, 10:17 IST Priyanka Chaturvedi

'Graceful Choice': Priyanka Chaturvedi Backs Deve Gowda's Retirement, Calls For More Youth In Politics Published By, Last Updated: June 09, 2026, 10:17 IST Priyanka Chaturvedi said senior politicians retiring should be seen as a dignified transition, arguing that India's legislatures need greater youth representation. File photos of Priyanka Chaturvedi/HD Deve Gowda (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday weighed in on the discussion surrounding former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda’s impending retirement from Parliament, saying it was perfectly acceptable for politicians of an advanced age to step aside and allow younger leaders an opportunity to enter public life. Her remarks came after it emerged that the 93-year-old Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch had not been renominated by the NDA for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. According to a PTI report, Deve Gowda is set to retire from the Rajya Sabha on June 25, bringing to a close a parliamentary career spanning nearly five decades. In a post on X, Chaturvedi stressed that her comments should not be interpreted as a lack of respect for the veteran leader, who has remained active in Parliament despite his age.

“While I have total respect for PM HD Deve Gowda, and also he was a regular presence in the parliament at his age, but it is absolutely fine for politicians at an advanced age to consider retiring and giving another person a chance," she wrote. Chaturvedi argued that retirement from active politics should not automatically be viewed as an insult or marginalisation of senior leaders. Instead, she described it as a dignified and natural transition. “It isn’t disrespectful to him but rather graceful choice by him to make way at 93," she said in her post. “A country boasting of a large youth population should also reflect the same in the local bodies, assembly and parliament," she mentioned. India has one of the world’s largest youth populations, and Chaturvedi suggested that elected bodies should increasingly mirror that demographic reality. While I have total respect for PM HD Deve Gowda, and also he was a regular presence in the parliament at his age, but it is absolutely fine for politicians at an advanced age to consider retiring and giving another person a chance. It isn’t disrespectful to him but rather…— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) June 9, 2026 Her comments stood in contrast to criticism from sections of the opposition, which have portrayed the decision not to renominate Deve Gowda as a slight against the former prime minister.