Advani steps down as Lok Sabha Opposition Party Leader

New Delhi, Dec 18 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani stepped down as leader of opposition and handed over the responsibility to Sushma Swaraj.

In the BJP parliamentary party meeting Advani was elected as Chairman of party's parliamentary wing.

With this 57 year old Vidisha M P- Sushma Swaraj became the second woman to lead the Opposition in the LoK Sabha.

82 year old Advani, known for his organisational skills, has scripted the rise of the Party from the mid-eighties.

With taking over as the Chairman of the Parliamentary wing Advani is expected to play the role of a mentor.

A journalist -turned politician Advani was born in Karachi in 1927. He has been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from 1942. He worked as a full time worker of the RSS during the time of Partition.

Later he followed Deendayal Upadhyaya and associated with Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

Advani also held the Information and Broadcasting portfolio during the Janata Party Government led by Morarji Desai.

Representing Gandhinagar constituency in the Lok Sabha he became the Home Minister and later Deputy Prime Minister in the National Democratic Allaince government in 1998.

The changes in the BJP have come at a time when the party is beset with several challenges. The defeat in the Lok Sabha polls also led to internal bickerings in the party. (ANI)