LK Advani on Friday sought to end speculation over his place in active politics, as Sushma Swaraj, his deputy in the Lok Sabha, on Friday asserted that ?Advani had been elected BJP Parliamentary Party leader for a full term (in 15th Lok Sabha)?. ?We did not elect him Parliamentary Party leader with a deadline in mind,? said Sushma in response to a question.
Meeting the Press after the conclusion of the Budget session, Advani agreed. ?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,? he added, indicating that he would agree to play an active role in party affairs, possibly as party parliamentary party leader, even after he relinquishes charge as Leader of Opposition, possibly in December.
The party has, meanwhile, decided to defer the chintan baithak by a couple of days which would now be held on August 19, 20 and 21 in Shimla. The party has invited a team of 25 leaders ? BJP core group members, party general secretaries, chief ministers, deputy chief minister, and deputy leaders of opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
That, however, leaves out leaders like Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie from the meeting who had earlier demanded accountability in the running of the party.
Advani also said on Friday that the chintan baithak would focus more on the road ahead rather than finger-pointing after the election debacle. ?The feeling of despondency is well and truly over in the party. We have asked the party leaders to make the Indo-Pak joint statement and price rise big issues for the coming Assembly elections,? he added.