Thursday, June 9 2005 11:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With L K Advani remaining firm on his decision to resign as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president, the party is now working on a "face saving" resolution hailing his visit to Pakistan but avoiding any mention of his controversial remarks there.

Unwilling to antagonise Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which has taken a tough line on Advani's description of Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah as secular, BJP leaders are working on a fresh resolution that would seek to strike a balance between "Advani's hurt feelings and popular sentiments", party sources said.

"The new resolution would focus on his visit to Pakistan though it would avoid any defence of Jinnah's secular credentials," they said.

The resolution is expected to be approved at the party's Parliamentary Board meeting this evening (Jun 9, 2005).

Advani is understood to have expressed disappointment over the text of the resolution passed at a meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board and Central Office bearers yesterday (Jun 8, 2005), which had avoided any reference to his week-long visit to the neighbouring country.

Although he had sought a day to reconsider his decision, Advani is unlikely to bow to the pressures as he has already made up his mind to go ahead with his resignation, sources close to him said.

However, senior party leaders expressed confidence that they would be able to convince him to withdraw his resignation. "He is an emotional person and he will not orphan us," a loyalist said.

"The redrafted resolution at best is aimed at soothing his hurt sentiments so that he continues to guide the party," party sources said.

Advani too may come out with a response thanking the party for the confidence reposed in him while expressing regret on their demand for continuing in the post.

Meanwhile, senior leaders of the party including Chief Ministers of BJP ruled states met at vice president Venkaiah Naidu's residence and deliberated on the draft resolution.

A steady stream of party leaders including Uma Bharti, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Navjot Singh Siddhu continued to pour in at Advani's residence making a last ditch effort to persuade him to withdraw his resignation.