“I have known Deve Gowda ji for more than 54 years and I have worked with him a lot. Later, I don’t know what happened…’ That love is with us, marriage with Modi sahib,’ Kharge said, drawing laughter from fellow MPs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Deve Gowda became Prime Minister in 1996 at the head of the Congress-backed United Front government, marking an important phase of cooperation. In Karnataka, his party, the JD(S), subsequently alternated between opposing and partnering with the Congress. Kharge’s farewell speech focused on the enduring nature of public service. He said people who enter politics “neither tire nor retire” because of their commitment to serving the country. While he is formally retiring from his current term, Kharge is expected to return to the House, reinforcing his point that political life rarely comes to a definitive end.Earlier in the day, PM Modi also addressed the House, thanked the outgoing members for their contributions and expressed similar sentiments. The Prime Minister urged retired MPs to continue contributing to public life, saying, “There is no full stop in politics. The future is waiting for you.” He also called upon the newly elected members to learn from senior leaders like Deve Gowda, Kharge and Sharad Pawar, keeping in mind their decades of parliamentary experience.PM Modi also praised Ramdas Athawale for his intelligence and remarked that humor and satire in the House has diminished in recent years, but it is alive because of personalities like him. Athawale is among the 37 members who are completing their tenure, along with Priyanka Chaturvedi, Tiruchi Siva and Abhishek Manu Singhvi.The retirements took place after elections for 37 Rajya Sabha seats in 10 states, in which 26 candidates were elected unopposed. Political developments in states like Bihar, where the absence of the opposition helped the NDA, have further reshaped the composition of the Upper House.