By IANS,
New Delhi: Ushering in a generational change in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), senior party leader L.K. Advani is likely to resign as Leader of Opposition at the BJP parliamentary party meeting here Friday.
Party sources said that the BJP constitution is expected to be amended to create a post of chairman of the parliamentary party, which would be offered to Advani.
This would pave the way for elevation of Sushma Swaraj as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, where she is deputy leader of the party at present.
Although the parliamentary party was to meet Monday, the meeting has been advanced in view of the likelihood of the government pushing for closing the winter session of parliament on Friday, the party sources said.
Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra state BJP chief, is expected to be appointed new president of the party on Saturday.
With this, the party will have a new chief and a new Leader of Opposition in the new year.
The changes are being made in consultation with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which wanted a young leadership to take over the party’s reins before the end of the year.
Rajnath Singh’s term ends in a couple of days. Arun Jaitley is Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
According to party sources, Advani is being elevated as chairman of the parliamentary party so that the BJP benefits from his experience and vision.