The present political discourse may not have enough room for even basic courtesies, but it was BJP leader L K Advani who admitted recently that it was not always like this. In the ‘90s, when the Congress, under Rajiv Gandhi, decided to prop up a Chandra Shekhar-led government, Speaker Rabi Ray decided that the opposition party status, occupied by the Congress, would be accorded to the BJP. Ever the gentleman, Rajiv offered 10 Janpath — traditionally occupied by the Leader of Opposition — to Advani. “Rajivji offered me 10 Janpath saying why don’t you stay here. so that the opposition leader can have a permanent address,” said Advani at a function in the Capital a few days ago. The BJP leader declined, saying he was happy at his Pandara Road residence where he had been living for long. He later shifted to 30, Prithviraj Road, primarily for security reasons, where he continues to live till date. Meanwhile, 10 Janpath, of course, has become the centre of the Congress’s universe.
