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`Vajpayee may not return the favour'

I am more of a consultant now: Advani

L.K.Advani

NEW DELHI: In a surprise statement, BJP leader L.K. Advani on Sunday said he did not expect the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to propose his name for prime ministership. He indicated he would be the party's prime ministerial candidate in the next elections.

Not expected

"While I had given his name for prime ministership in the first place, I don't expect him to return that favour to me," Mr. Advani told TV news channel CNN-IBN in an interview.

However, the press release issued by the channel did not give any reasons for Mr. Advani saying so.

Cites British system

"If you look at the British system, it is always the Leader of the Opposition who is the Prime Minister in waiting," Mr. Advani said.

Asked if this did not compromise BJP president Rajnath Singh's position, he said: "The party would decide what to do with Rajnath Singh."

"Earlier as the Leader of the Opposition, I also took great interest in organisational matters. I have stopped that now. I am more of a consultant now," he said.

Referring to the controversy regarding his Pakistan visit, Mr. Advani said the trip helped people get rid of the "wrong perception" that he and the party were "anti-Islam."

Vote-bank politics

Dismissing the findings of the Sachar Committee that studied the socio-economic status of Muslims, he said it was the "worst kind of vote- bank politics being practised by the Congress party." — PTI

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