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Advani is natural choice for PM, says Rajnath
Three Chief Ministers and top BJP leaders singing praises for him; it was perhaps the best birthday gift for LK Advani who turned 85 on Tuesday.
And to the surprise of many in the party, former BJP chief Rajnath Singh revived the "Advani for PM" debate by projecting him as the 'natural personality' for the top job.
"When I read in the papers about Advani being in the reckoning for PM post, I feel pained. Will a person of Advani's stature ever present his claim for Prime Ministership? He is a natural personality for the PM post. It is painful to see these reports in the media," Singh said at a function at Advani's residence.
Incidentally, Advani did not enjoyed best of relationship with Rajnath during whose tenure as BJP chief he was projected as NDA's PM candidate.
Rajnath's comment has come in the backdrop of uncertainty on who would lead the BJP in the next elections. Advani's ongoing yatra against corruption has intensified the debate over BJP's PM candidate.
On the occasion of release of a special supplement on him by Swadesh Group of Newspapers, Advani got into tears when Leaders of Opposition in both houses Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley along with Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh and Jharkhand CM Arjun Munda queued up to praise the veteran.
"I am at tears. I could not bear so much praise. I would turn arrogant if I start treating as true what all you (CMs and leaders) have said. One should not be arrogant in public life," Advani said, adding that he has seen people basking in self pride after becoming a simple corporater or MLA.
Seen wiping tears several times, Advani even left the dais for a few minutes to regain his composure.
"This institution of family separates us from other civilizations. I am fortunate to have two families - ideological (RSS) and personal. I have got lots of love from both," he added.
Advani recalled some untold stories of his life and admitted that Vajpayee's and Sushma Swaraj's oratory gives him an inferiority complex. "I had told Atal Bihari Vajpayee in early 1970s that I have developed an inferiority complex due to your speeches... I tell the same to Sushma Swaraj also. I really mean it," Advani said.
Swaraj described Advani as a "father-like figure" for her who respected her so much despite an age difference of 25-26 years. She lauded him as one who encouraged talent and said leaders like her had grown under his tutelage.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said Advani had the talent to take up an issue and build it up to a level where it gains acceptability across the country.
