Advani proposes to shun leadership in new House, BJP rejects
May 17, 2009
Taking responsibility for BJP's poor performance in the Lok Sabha
elections, its Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani on Saturday
offered not to be the party leader in the new House which was,
however, rejected.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, BJP General Secretary
Arun Jaitley said Advani proposed at the meeting of the party's
Parliamentary Board, which discussed the outcome, that a new leader
be elected to lead the party in the Lok Sabha.
"However, the Board asked him to continue to guide the party,"
Jaitley said adding that party President Rajnath Singh has been
authorised to talk to Advani not to press for his demand.
Accepting defeat of the party, he said, "Though no party
or a combination has got a clear majority, the BJP believes that
the UPA has the best mandate to rule."
He said the BJP's defeat was the "collective" responsibility
of the party.
"It is not outright rejection of NDA's policies as we have
done exceedingly well in some states while below expectations
in others," he said.
Comparing the latest tally with last Lok Sabha polls, Jaitley
said, "Last time, we were at 138, we remained 15-20 seats
behind but this time NDA, which fought election without its two
major allies- TDP and BJD, still managed to get over 160 seats."
(ST-16/05)