Advani takes over as working chairman of NDA

Chairman of the BJP Parliamentary Party L K Advani was today appointed as working chairman of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which was till now headed by veteran party leader and former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Besdies, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, who was a working convenor of the NDA has been made fullfleged convenor.

These decisions were taken with consensus at a meeting of the floor leaders of the NDA on the eve of the Budget session of the Parliament.

Briefing mediapersons about the meeting, BJP leader and Deputy Leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha SS Ahluwalia said it had been decided by the NDA that Mr Advani would take up the responsibility of working chairman of the Alliance with effect from today till Mr Vajpayee regains health.

He said Mr Yadav's appointment as NDA covenor also comes into force with immediate effect.

''All the NDA leaders felt that they need the wise guidance of Mr Advani, and so his name was proposed by Mr Yadav at the beginning of today's meeting he chaired. His proposal was endorsed by Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi, SAD leader Naresh Gujral and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari,'' he said.