Three prominent politicians - Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah and Housing Minister V Somanna - on Friday publicly announced that they would retire from active politics once they turn 70.

Speaking at a function to felicitate Somanna in Bangalore, 58-year-old Shettar said politicians should voluntarily set themselves a retirement age and, stated that he would retire from active politics at the age of 70. Somanna, 62, too said he would retire from politics on turning 70. 

Shettar said that the present political atmosphere was “contaminated” due to the vested interests of a few persons. “However, politics is a very respectful profession. Everyone should take the responsibility of cleansing it,” he said.

Shettar was all praises for Somanna stating that he had dedicated his three decades in public life for the welfare of the poor. Congress leaders, KPCC president G Parameshwara and former minister B L Shankar, also showered praises on Somanna, a one-time Congressman.

In Mysore, leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah, 65, echoed similar views stating that politicians should retire once they turn 70.

The Congress leader said as in other professions, in politics too there should be an age for retirement. “Politicians, despite their old age, have the tendency to cling on to power. They can’t be away from power. But, I am going to announce my retirement once I am 70. I am going to contest my last elections this time,” he said.