Advani would not retire from active politics: Balbir Punj

New Delhi, Dec 18 : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Balbir Punj said here on Friday that former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani would not be retiring from active politics.

Interacting with the media outside the Parliament, Punj hinted that Advani is all set to hand over the baton of opposition party leadership to another leader.

“Advani will not retire from active politics, though he may quit the post of Leader of Opposition but will continue as the Chairman of Parliamentary Party,” Punj said.

The BJP Parliamentary Party meeting would be held this evening to take the move forward.

The meeting is likely to give its nod to amend party constitution to create the post of Chairman to which Advani will be appointed.

Deputy Leader of Opposition, Sushma Swaraj is the front-runner to occupy the seat vacated by Advani.

If Swaraj succeeds Advani, then she will become the second woman to lead opposition in the Lok Sabha. Earlier, from 1999-2004 Congress President Sonia Gandhi led the opposition parties. (ANI)