Advani to Continue as Leader of Opposition
Changing his mind, BJP leader LK Advani will reportedly continue as the leader of Opposition in the 15th Lok Sabha.
According to sources, after the denial to continue with his job, Advani changed his mind after party put pressure on him.
“Advani ji will continue to be the leader of the Opposition, parliamentary board has refused his request and he will stay on as leader of opposition,” said party president Rajnath Singh.
It should be noted that only on Sunday, the BJP said that it could not convince Advani into continuing at the helm of affairs in Parliament.
“I don’t think that we can persuade Advaniji, who is a man with very firm mind,” BJP spokesperson Balbir Punj told reporters a day after the BJP’s electoral defeat. “I don’t think he is going to relent on that,” he added.
“I can understand the reluctance of the party as the party has worked under his leadership for 50 years. It’s very difficult for the ordinary BJP worker (to accept Advani’s decision).”
Punj also spoke on the topic of Advani’s possible successors in the Lok Sabha and said that the BJP was “very rich in leadership in Lok Sabha”. He said that the party would decide a successor by consensus.
Advani had offered to step down at the BJP parliamentary board meeting on Saturday after it became clear that the BJP had lost the electoral battle but his colleagues refused to accept it. When he insisted, it was decided that party president Rajnath Singh would speak to him.
