Day after, Atal rules out change of guard

As television channels began running Vajpayee’s remarks, along with the spin that he had endorsed Sudarshan’s call for a change of guard, Vajpayee, according to sources, had called up Advani twice yesterday to make it clear that he had not implied anything like that.

In order to put an end to the controversy, Vajpayee came out with a written statement today, saying that ‘‘wrong meanings are being drawn from my answers to questions from reporters in passing.’’

‘‘I did not say anything which would raise any controversy about the continuation of Advani in the post of BJP president.’’ Advani, he pointed out, had been ‘‘unanimously elected party president only a few months ago.’’

‘‘He (Advani) is leading the party very successfully,’’ Vajpayee added.

A disclaimer on any leadership change in the BJP also came from senior leader Jaswant Singh. ‘‘There is no question of a leadership change till Mr Advani completes his full term,’’ Singh told reporters. The BJP president has a term of three years.

When reporters drew his attention to Sudarshan’s remarks, Singh referred to the BJP statement on the issue and said: ‘‘The party has totally and categorically reaffirmed its faith in the leadership of both Vajpayee and Advani.’’