Saturday, July 16 2005 17:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: In the first serious expression of open defiance against BJP President L K Advani, senior leader and former Rajasthan Governor Madan Lal Khurana today demanded his resignation as party chief and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.

Khurana, a party strongman in Delhi till a few years ago, has sent a letter to Advani containing his demand today.

"It is public knowledge that the sangh leadership has lost confidence in you and had expected that you has a disciplined swayam sevak should resign from the Presidentship of the party. I do not know whether you respect the sentiments of the sangh leadership or whether you prefer to go by the advise of the people like Sudheendra Kulkarni.

"But under the present circusmstances I find it impossible to continue under your leadership," said Khurana in his letter to Advani.

Khurana, a former Chief Minister of Delhi and a former Union Minister, had resigned as Rajasthan Governor after the UPA came to power and sacked some of the Governors appointed by the NDA government for their links with the RSS.

His demand comes in the midst of mounting problems for Advani, who had defied an RSS directive to him to quit as party President.