Wednesday, April 20 2005 17:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A day after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee created a flutter by his remarks that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president L K Advani should decide whether to continue in the post, the party today (Apr 20, 2005) ruled out any change till Advani completed his full tenure.

"There is no question of any change till Advani completes his full tenure. The party is not at all considering any change," senior party leader Jaswant Singh said in New Delhi.

Asked about Vajpayee's remarks endorsing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief K S Sudarshan's statement that both he and Advani should give way to the second young leadership, he said, "The party has totally and categorically reaffirmed its faith in the leadership of both Vajpayee and Advani."

On Vajpayee's remarks that the second generation is ready to take over, he said that the very term, "second line" has been coined by the media.

"He (Vajpayee) is the most experienced and world renowned leader we have. There is no ambiguity. The party has reposed its total and exemplary faith in their leadership", the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said.

Vajpayee makes U turn on his remarks

Making a U turn on his remarks that it was for L K Advani to decide on continuing, as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said that his views have been misinterpreted and made it clear that he wants him to continue in the post.

As a controversy raged whether he had suggested that Advani should retire to make way for younger leaders to take over, Vajpayee, in a statement in New Delhi, said, "A wrong meaning is being given to my replies to questions put by reporters yesterday (Apr 19, 2005).

"I have not said anything that could create a controversy over continuance of Advani, as BJP president."

Advani, the former Prime Minister said that has been unanimously elected as president a few months ago and is heading the party successfully.

"We all want him to steer the party in future too," the former Prime Minister said in his brief statement.