Advani wants to quit as Oppn leader: Venkaiah

SENIOR BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said BJP parliamentary party leader L K Advani has told party leaders that he didnt wish to continue in the position till the tenure of the 15th Lok Sabha....

SENIOR BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said BJP parliamentary party leader L K Advani has told party leaders that he didnt wish to continue in the position till the tenure of the 15th Lok Sabha and that he would like to hand over the responsibility to some other colleague. Naidu added in the same vein that the party would go by his (Advanis) choice about the time (of his handing over the baton to his successor) and the person. He also said the party had not finalised the name of the party president so far,and that the person would be chosen unanimously at an appropriate time.

In his statement,Naidu known for his proximity to Advani said: Advani has been elected Leader of the Party for the 15th Lok Sabha in spite of his reluctance. He told us that he does not want to continue till the tenure of 15th Lok Sabha and would like to hand over the responsibility to some other colleague. The party is keen to have his leadership and guidance and will go by his choice about the time and the person.

On a new party president,Naidu said: Different names are being discussed in the BJP for the presidentship of the party. No name was suggested or rejected by the RSS and no name has been finalised by the party so far. The process of consultation is on and there will be unanimous choice of the next president at an appropriate time.

After RSSs recent intervention in BJP affairs was objected to by a group of central BJP leaders,leading the RSS to issue a rare clarification on the matter,Naidu also dwelt on the BJP-RSS dynamics. The BJP and the RSS do share ideological bond. But structurally and functionally we are independent and autonomous. The same has been repeatedly emphasised at the highest level by the RSS as well as the BJP. Even yesterday there was a categorical policy statement from Nagpur. We discuss matters of mutual and national interest. But unless asked for,the RSS never proffers any advice to the BJP, he said in his statement. Naidu also added that he was not in the race for the party presidents post as he had been the party president once.

Nepal Army chief steps in, ex-Chief Justice agrees to be interim head

World3 hr ago

General Ashok Raj Sigdel successfully convinced former Chief Justice Sushila Karki to become the interim Chief Executive after violent protests led to the fall of the K P Sharma Oli government. He held talks with various groups and proposed an interim government to restore peace. Karki, with the support of the Nepal Army, will work towards delivering a new Constitution.

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