GenNext takes centrestage in BJP, Sushma replaces Advani

BJP leader Sushma Swaraj will soon take over as leader of opposition from LK Advani. And the BJP’s parliamentary board would formally name Nitin Gadkari as the party’s president on Saturday, party officials said. Shekhar Iyer reports.

BJP leader Sushma Swaraj will soon take over as leader of opposition from LK Advani. And the BJP’s parliamentary board would formally name Nitin Gadkari as the party’s president on Saturday, party officials said.

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After Swaraj steps up, Advani may become chairman of the BJP parliamentary party and, later, of the NDA — a post held by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The change may happen as early as Friday when Advani addresses party MPs, who are likely to vote on an amendment to create the new post for him in the BJP.

Advani’s ‘elevation’ is in keeping with the timeline for a generational change worked out by the BJP’s ideological fount, the RSS, after the party lost the Lok Sabha polls in May.

Advani had earlier indicated to the RSS that he would hand over the baton to Swaraj once Rajnath Singh’s successor as BJP chief was found. Singh completed his term last month.

Party officials said Advani’s role as a “father figure” would not diminish but the RSS wanted younger MPs to play a bigger role .

Gadkari will be formally elected as the BJP chief in mid-January.