New Delhi: Lal Krishna Advani will be 82 years of age if he becomes prime minister in 2009. Critics say that is too ripe an age to rule a country as vast as India. His supporters vehemently disagree.
The fact is Advani figures poorly vis-à-vis many leading politicians in the country in the age factor - at a time when half the population in the country is under 25 years of age.
Yet, many political leaders are relatively young. They include Sonia Gandhi (Congress), Lalu Prasad (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Prakash Karat (Communist Parry of India-Marxist), AIADMK's J. Jaylalitha and N. Chandrababu Naidu (Telugu Desam Party).
And Rahul Gandhi, a first time MP, is only 38 years old.
So is a political veteran, over 80 years of age, fit enough to lead the country?
Yes, asserts the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"In India we love our grandpas," BJP spokesman Prakash Jawadekar told IANS. He quickly added that Advani was the party's star and the decision to make him the prime ministerial candidate "is the best thing to happen to the BJP".
BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi gave another reason.
"Running the country is no child's play. You need a tried and tested leader with administrative skills and political sagacity and one who has a micro and macro view of the country's problems. In all these respects, Advani is the tallest and strongest leader in the country," he said.
Naqvi added: "As far as young leaders are concerned, we are proud that we have a lot of good leaders, more popular and more capable than in the Congress."
The oldest prime minister India has had was Morarji Desai, who was 81 when he took office in March 1977. Charan Singh, who succeeded him two years later, was 77.
Advani's BJP colleague Atal Bihari Vajpayee was 74 when he became prime minister in 1998 - and remained in power until his party was voted out in 2004.
Incumbent Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is 75 years of age.
Congress spokesman and central minister Shakeel Ahmad is, however, dismissive about Advani. "These days people expect younger leaders to come forward and lead them because they can understand and identify with their aspirations."
He added: "There is a view that after a certain age humans start turning senile. I suppose by 80 senility starts setting in. Advani's (controversial) comments on Mohammad Ali Jinnah (in 2005) show definite signs of senility."
RJD's Devendra Prasad Yadav thinks politicians need to bow out early.
"I have held this view for long that like bureaucrats, judges and others, politicians too should have a retirement age. If officers retire at 60, judges at 62, then politicians too should retire at 65 or at the most at 70. Surely some age limit needs to be fixed.
"After that they can be elder statesmen. They should run training camps and guide younger leaders. But they should voluntarily retire from active politics."
Former BJP MP Chandan Mitra denied that Advani's advancing age would affect his functioning as prime minister - if he became one.
"I don't think age is relevant to the leadership question. You can't simply go by chronological age. His mental and physical faculties are excellent. Advani is the most appropriate person to lead the country," he said.
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