BJP leaders to persuade LK Advani to reconsider decision to quit

NEW DELHI: Taken aback by L K Advani's resignation from all party posts, BJP leaders today said they will persuade him to reconsider it and were hopeful that he will do so.

Advani's close associate Jaswant Singh maintained that the "worries and concerns" raised by Advani about the affairs of the party would be looked into.

"The issues he has raised are for the good of the party and the nation. I am hopeful a proper solution to these would come out. I am sure the party will be successful in dealing with these issues," Singh told reporters.

Former BJP President Nitin Gadkari said the party needs the guidance of a veteran leader like Advani at this juncture. "We will pray to him to reconsider and I am confident he will take back his resignation," Gadkari said.

Party MP Uma Bharti, who met Advani and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj separately this morning, said that she and and Swaraj had a "good conversation" but refused to answer questions on Advani's resignation, saying she does not want to speak on that matter.

Asked whether her writing a letter to party President Rajnath Singh on not being able to attend the BJP conclave at Goa was any indication that she was upset, Bharti said she was not annoyed in any manner.