Sitamarhi (Bihar): BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader and former Lok Sabha member from Sheohar, Anwarul Haque today (Oct 18, 2004) resigned from the primary membership of the party in protest against installation of L K Advani as its president. ''I have resigned from the primary membership of BJP as I strongly oppose Advani's return as its president,'' Haque told reporters in Bihar.

Describing Advani as a ''hardcore RSS man,'' he alleged ''minorities who heaved a sigh of relief under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee are now scared of recurrence of communal violence as whenever Advani had undertaken a yatra the country witnessed riots.'' He, however, declined to divulge which party he intended to join. ''I will take a decision on the matter after Ramzan,'' Haque said, adding he would maintain ''equi-distance from both BJP and the ruling RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) in Bihar.''

Scotching speculations about his return to RJD, Haque said his fight against the misrule of the Laloo-Rabri regime in Bihar.

Haque had unsuccessfully contested the last Lok Sabha poll from Sheohar.