LK Advani today put to rest speculation over his continuance as Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, as his deputy Sushma Swaraj made it clear that he has been elected to the post for a full term.
LK Advani today put to rest speculation over his continuance as Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, as his deputy Sushma Swaraj made it clear that he has been elected to the post for a full term.
"We have elected him for a full term. We did not elect him Leader of Opposition with a deadline...I am saying this with my authority as his deputy," Deputy Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj told reporters with Advani by her side.
Meeting the press at the end of the first budget session of Parliament, 81-year-old Advani endorsed what Swaraj said. "Whatever I agree to is of my own volition. The kind of political life I have and the kind of appreciation I have received from the country...I don't do anything on which I am reluctant."
Besides, he told the questioner, "If your question is a suggestion for action, I will certainly ponder over that". The questioner said the nation would like to know about the future plans of Advani and whether he would continue to as Leader of the Opposition for the full term.
Advani's comments acquire significance as they come ahead of the "chintan baithak" (brainstorming session) the party plans to hold in Shimla in the third week of this month to discuss the electoral debacle.
Senior leaders including Yashwant Sinha, Jaswant Singh and Arun Shourie have accused the leadership, including Advani, of not not doing any soul searching on the defeat and instead rewarding people they feel were responsible for the party's defeat.
When Advani was chosen to lead the BJP Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha by virtue of which he became the Leader of the Opposition in the aftermath of the electoral debacle, it was widely speculated that Advani hold the post temporarily.
His choice of younger leaders like Arun Jaitley as Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Sushma Swaraj as Deputy Leader in the lower House further fuelled speculation that he would make way for younger elements.
After BJP's defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, Advani had indicated to the top brass that he was not interested in becoming Leader of Opposition and the party should choose somebody else.
However, he changed his mind when the party could not reach a consensus on his successor due to sharp divisions in the second rung of leadership.
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