145;This dispels canards about differences between me, PM146;

His wife sat beside him as his daughter Pratibha played the hostess. The bond between the father and daughter was obvious as she kept hugging Advani, talking to him in Sindhi. The mood was cheerful.

Among the first ones who came to wish Advani were his trusted personal secretary Deepak Chopra with his family and home secretary Kamal Pande. Minister of state in PMO Vijay Goel, MP Vinod Khanna and other politicians including Ashok Pradhan followed. In between meeting his guests, Advani received congratulatory calls.

Advani said, his elevation as deputy PM was merely formalising the position that he already held in the government. But he seemed happiest at the fact that it may 8216;8216;debunk stories8217;8217; about any rift between the PM and him.

8216;8216;I recall, one year, ago, I was in my North Block office when my wife called me and asked me to come home earlier than my usual time of 2 pm for lunch. She said the PM had called to say that he will be coming for lunch at 1 pm. That was the time when such stories were at their peak. It was Vajapayeeji8217;s way, in his inimitable style, to put those to rest,8217;8217; Advani recalled, smiling.

And now, appointing him his deputy was another way. But did his status as deputy PM mean that Advani was the next PM? Folding his hands, he said: 8216;8216;I wish and pray that Vajpayeeji continues to lead the country for many more years to come.8217;8217;