Vajpayee to be leader of Opposition in LS

Emerging from an hour-long meeting, Sushma Swaraj said Vajpayee will remain leader of the BJP as well as the NDA.

Outgoing Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Thursday.

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Swaraj also dismissed media queries on Vajpayee contemplating quitting public life.

Emerging from an hour-long Cabinet meeting, she said Vajpayee "will be the leader of Opposition. He will remain leader of the BJP as well as the NDA".

The Cabinet meeting, initially presided over by Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, passed a resolution lauding Vajpayee's performance as Prime Minister.

Later, Vajpayee addressed the meeting and said he would submit his resignation to President APJ Abdul Kalam respecting the people's mandate, Swaraj said.

The meeting was attended by 12 ministers, including Defence Minister and NDA Convener George Fernandes, she said.