Saturday, December 24 2005 20:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pramod Mahajan has ruled out a change in party leadership during the national executive and party convention to be held, here, from December 26 to 30, but said party president L K Advani could take a decision (to resign) anytime after that.

"It could be December 31 or even later, but not at least during the six-day party national executive and convention," Mahajan said reacting to reports that former UP Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh was all set to take over as the new BJP chief.

Mahajan said that Advani has already announced that he would resign after the Mumbai national executive and party convention.

"Any decision by the party president to resign after the party convention, will be clear on 28th (when the national executive meet ends), and the media will be informed accordingly," Mahajan said.

Replying to a question, Mahajan said that the new party chief will continue till 2007, and later the party can endorse the leadership for another term.

Mahajan, who today inaugurated a new party website to mark the silver jubilee celebrations, said that it was also unlikely that the party MPs expelled following the sting operation on corruption would attend the party functions, here.