NEW DELHI,FEBRUARY 2 Throwing cold water on L K Advani’s not-too-subtle desire to be projected as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha elections, his successor Rajnath Singh today declared that 2009 was too far away and a decision on that score would be taken only when the elections drew near.

However, there was some consolation for Advani—Singh denied there were any moves to remove Advani and Jaswant Singh as the leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha respectively. ‘‘Veh neta hain aur rahenge’’ (they are our leaders and will remain so), he told a press conference held after the first party office-bearers’ meeting since his taking charge.

But his reply to another question on whether Advani would be projected as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate was of greater political import. ‘‘Chunaav door hain,’’ was his cryptic response. ‘‘Jab aayenge tab batayenge.’’ (The elections are far away; we will decide when they are upon us.)

His remark assumes significance in light of Advani’s repeated hints that he would like to lead the party in the next polls. At his farewell press conference in Mumbai on December 31, Advani categorically denied that he had ever said he would step aside for a younger leadership in the next parliamentary polls. In an interview to India Today soon after, when it was pointed out that the Leader of the Opposition was a prime minister-in-waiting, Advani had replied: ‘‘You are talking about the general convention. I will not disagree with that.’’ To a follow-up question asking whether he would be an exception to that convention, the former BJP chief was even more forthright. ‘‘Why should I be an exception?’’ he had asked.