By IANS
New Delhi : Being an octogenarian is not a matter of concern for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader L.K. Advani, who laughed it off at a function here Friday.
“It is nice to know that Ficci (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) was formed in 1927. Even I was born the same year. So when I came to know that Ficci is also 80 years old, it was a pleasant coincidence,” Advani said while addressing the chamber at its annual general meeting.
Advani said he had mentioned his age during his speech at a programme recently only to be pulled up by a friend. “Being 80 is okay but why do you have to say it in your speech, my friend had told me,” the BJP leader said, amid a round of applause.
When the BJP declared Advani its prime ministerial candidate on the eve of the Gujarat assembly elections in December last year, one of the major issues discussed in the media and in political circles was his age. Many leaders opposed to the BJP pointed out that if the Lok Sabha elections are held in 2009 and he becomes prime minister, he would be 82 years old.
Ficci president-elect and parliament member Rajeev Chandrashekhar in his valedictory address quoted a newspaper, saying: “Advani-ji keeps a punishing schedule even at this age. If Ficci can keep this energy level, it would be great.”