LK Advani is a universally acceptable leader: BJP

BJP leader LK Advani Wednesday found more support for becoming the party's Prime Ministerial candidate with another MP endorsing Rajnath Singh's views and stating he was "universally acceptable" for the post.

"Advani is a universally acceptable leader. Nobody has any doubt on that score," BJP spokesperson and MP Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters in Delhi in reply to a question.

Former BJP President Rajnath Singh - who is not among the close associates of Advani - had Tuesday said the octogenarian leader was a "natural choice" for the Prime Ministerial post.

"When I read in the papers about Advani being in the reckoning for PM post, I feel pained. Will a person of Advani's stature ever make a claim for Prime Ministership?.... He is a natural choice for the PM post. It is painful to see these reports in the media," Singh had said.

He was speaking at a programme held to celebrate Advani's 85th birthday. The BJP leader had taken a break from his yatra to be with his family and friends.

Hussain said former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani have always been the top most leaders of the BJP.

"The party has grown and prospered under their leadership," he said.

Hussain will join Advani tomorrow at Ajmer when the latter visits the holy shrine of Hazrat Moinuddin Chisti there. Advani's yatra reached Ajmer this evening.