Nov. 8: Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, on whom pressure is mounting to relinquish the Leader of Opposition post, celebrated his 83rd birthday on Sunday. President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar wished the BJP leader. While Ms Patil sent flowers to him, Dr Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker wished him over phone.

Speculations had been rife within the party that Mr Advani would indicate on his birthday as when he would relinquish the Leader of Opposition post. Pressure has been mounting on him to step down from the post, especially after BJP’s repeated dismal performance in both Lok Sabha and recent Assembly elections. Though the RSS had indicated that Mr Advani may quit once BJP gets a new president as the term of the incumbent Rajnath Singh expires in December.

Controversy over Mr Advani’s continuance as the Leader of Opposition started after the Lok Sabha polls debacle in which he was projected as the prime ministerial candidate by his party.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had stepped in to make it clear that the party leadership should pass on to the younger generation as was demanded by a majority section within the party.

Others leaders who visited Mr Advani’s residence on the occasion included BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, M. Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Ananth Kumar and Kalraj Mishra. INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala also called on the BJP leader.

to wish him personally. Chief minister’s of BJP ruled states, including Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, Uttrakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also wished Mr Advani.

Nov. 8: Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, on whom pressure is mounting to relinquish the Leader of Opposition post, celebrated his 83rd birthday on Sunday. President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar wished the BJP leader. While Ms Patil sent flowers to him, Dr Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker wished him over phone.

Speculations had been rife within the party that Mr Advani would indicate on his birthday as when he would relinquish the Leader of Opposition post. Pressure has been mounting on him to step down from the post, especially after BJP’s repeated dismal performance in both Lok Sabha and recent Assembly elections. Though the RSS had indicated that Mr Advani may quit once BJP gets a new president as the term of the incumbent Rajnath Singh expires in December.

Controversy over Mr Advani’s continuance as the Leader of Opposition started after the Lok Sabha polls debacle in which he was projected as the prime ministerial candidate by his party.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had stepped in to make it clear that the party leadership should pass on to the younger generation as was demanded by a majority section within the party.

Others leaders who visited Mr Advani’s residence on the occasion included BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, M. Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Ananth Kumar and Kalraj Mishra. INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala also called on the BJP leader.

to wish him personally. Chief minister’s of BJP ruled states, including Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, Uttrakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also wished Mr Advani.

Nov. 8: Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, on whom pressure is mounting to relinquish the Leader of Opposition post, celebrated his 83rd birthday on Sunday. President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar wished the BJP leader. While Ms Patil sent flowers to him, Dr Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker wished him over phone.

Speculations had been rife within the party that Mr Advani would indicate on his birthday as when he would relinquish the Leader of Opposition post. Pressure has been mounting on him to step down from the post, especially after BJP’s repeated dismal performance in both Lok Sabha and recent Assembly elections. Though the RSS had indicated that Mr Advani may quit once BJP gets a new president as the term of the incumbent Rajnath Singh expires in December.

Controversy over Mr Advani’s continuance as the Leader of Opposition started after the Lok Sabha polls debacle in which he was projected as the prime ministerial candidate by his party.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had stepped in to make it clear that the party leadership should pass on to the younger generation as was demanded by a majority section within the party.

Others leaders who visited Mr Advani’s residence on the occasion included BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, M. Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Ananth Kumar and Kalraj Mishra. INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala also called on the BJP leader.

to wish him personally. Chief minister’s of BJP ruled states, including Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, Uttrakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also wished Mr Advani.

AGE CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi