New Delhi, Aug 18 - The young generation should be put at the helm of affairs in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said Tuesday, breaking his silence over the leadership crisis in the party.

'It is a universal rule that the young generation must replace the old generation,' Bhagwat told television channel Times Now when asked about the aging top leadership of the BJP.

'When, where and how (it happens), they will have to decide the modus operandi,' he said, and quickly added that 'transition is necessary'.

The RSS is the ideological fountainhead of the BJP.

Asked about the factionalism in the party, Bhagwat said it had suffered a 'nasty jolt' in the elections and must address real issues and put an end to factionalism.

'It was a nasty jolt, quite unexpected, and it destabilised the party. Whatever happened was not very good, even BJP leaders have said this,' he said.

In a stern message to the party a day ahead of its three-day chintan baithak (introspection session) that begins in Shimla, the RSS chief said: 'They have to get their balance back.' Bhagwat said the sooner they do so, the better.