Sunday, July 17 2005 10:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) President L K Advani yesterday (July 16, 2005) faced open attack from party seniors including a demand for his resignation amidst mounting speculation over his continuance at the top post but he appeared to have the backing of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his current problems with the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh).

Days after Advani defied RSS' message that he step down for this "ideological erosion", senior leaders, with apparent prodding from the Sangh fount-head, made public their criticism of the party chief.

Former Delhi strongman Madan Lal Khurana demanded that he resign both as President and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

The others who expressed their voice of dissent were Rajya Sabha MP Pyarelal Khandelwal, who favoured one-man one-post, with the demand that the Chennai National Executive next week should discuss ideological issues including those arising out of his Pakistan trip.

Former party Presidents Bangaru Laxman and Jana Krishnamurthy and Parliamentary Party Secretary Ashwani Kumar joined the list of dissenters.

There was media speculation throughout the day whether Advani would stay as BJP President in the face of "strong" RSS Opposition and whether the Chennai Executive would even take place, Advani went to Vajpayee's residence for discussions.

Senior leaders Jaswant Singh and M Venkaiah Naidu also joined the parleys after which spokesman Prakash Javdekar dismissed "speculative reports" on the television channels as "baseless".

Asked whether Advani has resigned Javdekar said, "That is what I am saying all speculative stories are baseless".

He said the National Executive at Chennai beginning July 21 stood as scheduled.

Tomorrow's meeting of General Secretaries at Advani's residence tomorrow evening, Parliamentary Party leaders at Vajpayee's house on Monday (July 18, 2005) ahead of an NDA (National Democratic Alliance) leaders meeting would also take place as scheduled, he said.