New Delhi: Dismissing speculation on differences within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the leadership issue, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on June 5 described as "very appropriate" party president Venkaiah Naidu's assertion that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was its supreme leader.

Asked about Vajpayee's remarks that Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani would lead the party to victory in the next polls, which caused flutters in political circles, RSS spokesman Ram Madhav said, "If at all you read anything, it shows the mutual respect and confidence shared between the two leaders.

"It reflects Vajpayee's large heartedness, confidence and faith in Advani's capabilities."

He said RSS "fully endorses" Naidu's statement that Vajpayee would lead the party and that he was the "number one" leader of the country.

"It is a very appropriate decision at this point in time," Madhav said.

Asked whether Naidu's flip-flop statements on leadership issues had provoked Vajpayee to make such a remark, the RSS spokesman said, "The Prime Minister is a statesman. He will not get upset over such matters."

PTI