NEW DELHI, June 30: Indian Home Minister, Lal Krishan Advani, said on Sunday that his elevation as deputy prime minister should not be seen as a move to succeed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who is being asked to lead the party into the next general elections due in 2004.

“The move should not be seen as paving the way for a successor to Vajpayee as both of us are of the same age group,” Advani told Aaj Tak news channel.

He said that in the BJP, Vajpayee, former BJP president Khushabhau Thakre, and himself were all over 70 years of age and any question of a successor would have to fall on a younger leader.

Advani said it was the party’s view that Vajpayee should lead the BJP in the next general elections.

“My view on this is firm and I believe that he (Vajpayee) will abide by it,” Advani said.

Advani said he felt the appointment might have been made with a view to dispelling any rumours in the media about differences with the prime minister.

Asked whether his appointment will find favour with NDA allies given his hard-line image, he said he had been working with the allies for over four years.

“I have been accepted by them and no new situation will arise as a result of this appointment,” he asserted.

On the issue of BJP agenda, he said the government was that of NDA and not of BJP. Therefore, a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of NDA would be followed and implemented.

“We have honestly followed CMP for four years. This has nothing to do with my appointment as deputy prime minister”, he said.

Meanwhile, senior minister Venkaiah Naidu is scheduled to take over as BJP president on Monday when Vajpayee will also shuffle his cabinet. He said his appointment followed consultation with the NDA partners.—JN

AFP Adds: India’s deputy prime minister on Sunday dismissed suggestions of a rift between himself and Prime Minister Vajpayee.

Advani, in a television interview, suggested that his promotion may have been prompted by persistent reports that there were differences of opinion between himself and Vajpayee. “The prime minister may have been prompted to do this by the sustained campaign or reports that there are differences between us,” he told Star News.