Tuesday, July 12 2005 14:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Asserting that the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) has not asked its President L K Advani to step down for "ideological deviation", the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (July 12, 2005) declared he would complete his full term.

"Not even once was Advani told to step down and there is no confusion or controversy in the Parivar or Party in this regard," Party spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said at a press conference a day after RSS top brass met Advani, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and senior BJP leaders.

She, however said the RSS leadership stressed on "ideological firmness" and that the conduct, behaviour and raising of issues should not be out of tune with the Sangh ideology.

"They (RSS) did not ask for Advaniji's resignation. They also did not talk about one-man one-post during the talks we had for more than an hour yesterday," Swaraj said after a meeting of Central office-bearers in New Delhi.

She said such speculation was being highlighted only in the media.

The meeting was attended among others by BJP Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, party General Secretaries Pramod Mahajan, Rajnath Singh, Ananth Kumar, Bal Apte and V K Malhotra.

RSS sources had yesterday suggested that their top brass conveyed to Advani that his continuation as party President was untenable in view of his controversial remarks on Jinnah and other issues in Pakistan "which had confused the cadres".