Patna: Political parties in Bihar are battling age problems, as many of their veteran leaders are crossing 70 or even 80.

The problem is even more acute for the BJP, as it tends to put 70-plus leaders in the bracket of Marg Darshak Mandal.

Even in the RJD, whose leadership is now firmly behind the young Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, questions are being asked about some leaders and whether they should make way for the younger lot.

In the BJP, Begusrai MP Bhola Prasad Singh is 79 and will be 80 when Lok Sabha polls are held.

He is reported to have expressed his unwillingness to contest the next polls because of his failing health. BJP MP from Madhubani Hukum Dev Yadav, too, is 79 and reportedly unwilling to contest polls again.

"For that matter, even agriculture minister Radhamohan Singh, who represents Purvi Chamapran, is close to 70," said a BJP leader.

LJP chief and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan is around 72. Lately, he has not been keeping good health. There are reports he may hand over his constituency of Hajipur to his son Chirag Paswan and go to Parliament through thee Rajya Sabha with support from allies.

In the RJD, two Lalu loyalists - former Union minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Jagadanand Singh - are 72 and 73 respectively.

Their clout in the party has dipped ever since Tejashwi took over. Though Tejashwi publicly calls them his guardians, he trusts persons like Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha more than his father's trusted aides.

There is talk of replacement. "It all depends of how indispensable one is," said an RJD MLA.

"Former Araria MP Mohammad Taslimuddin would have been 76 had he been alive. But I doubt either Lalu or Tejashwi would have dared replace him. When he died the RJD was quick to offer his seat to his son."

In the past, most retiring politicians have managed to let their sons inherit their seats. Captain Jai Narayan Nishad was able to convince the BJP leadership to give his ticket to son Ajay Nishad in 2014.

"I think both Hukumdev Yadav and Bhola Babu might try the same," said a BJP leader. A few like Dr C P Thakur shifted from Lok Sabha to Rajya Sabha, as campaigning for the Lok Sabha is strenuous.

Politicians are reluctant to retire. Former chief minister, the late Ram Sundar Das, contested and won on a JDU ticket in 2009 at the age of 91 from Hajipur reserved seat, defeating Ram Vilas Paswan.

He contested the polls again in 2014 at the age of 9, becoming the oldest Lok Sabha candidate in that poll. "While campaigning Dasji was unable to alight from his vehicle, greeting voters from the vehicle only. He told them his health was the way it had been in 2009. But the voters were not convinced and ditched him for Paswan," recalled a JDU leader.

Raghuvansh Prasad Singh was reluctant to link age and politicians.

"Politics is not a service which needs a retirement age," he told The Telegraph. "It's up to the people to decide if they want to keep the politician or make him retire."