I still wonder how do you guys omit Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, besides late Vijaya Raje who are also the founder members of BJP. I think this is too selfish of Advani to sideline the real leaders i.e. Jaswant Singh, Bhairon Singh, MM Joshi, even Narendra Modi. Of course the so called 'era' is not a setback but considering the fact that the women in BJP are on a revolt, greedy for more power and representation, has made it an uphill task for the BJP to survive first than rise up. I would rather give credit to Sonia Gandhi's leadership that made it happen even in the opposition party.

It definitely is. BJP is going to miss Atalji terribly. He gave the party a clean image.

On top of that party is associating with teh likes of Sibu Soren and reddys. it is dissappointing.

Both Atal and Advani ji have brought the BJP to the level, it is now. Obviously BJP has been missing Atal and will continue to miss, but this had to happen. For new people to appear, old one has to disappear. As far as advani is concerned, he has not left BJP. He is now with BJP at a new post where he can guide the new people having command of BJP.

Obviously BJP has lost its glory (loss of LS polls and Loss of Jharkhand Assembly, which was supposed to be its strong hold for past few years) it had, when Atal was Prime minister. According to me, they need some changes in their ideology. In that prospective, it was necessary to have some changes in its management. It might take some time for BJP to regain its lost glory, but that time will certainly come.

Stepping down of Vajpayee-Advani was expected, But wot wasn't anticipated that the very talented Nxt Gen BJP leaders would fall apart.It was an amazing team with People like Arun Jaitely, Sushma Swaraj, Venkiah Naidu, Narendra Modi etc. But the infightings had led to the Party's demise. I still have hope they would rise like the Phoeinx.
Winning Karnataka is their only Achievement.

It will not have any effect on BJP.Now the party will have new/fresh thinking on policy matter.It will have opinion of youngster,which will give more clarity to supporters.

No, I do not think so.

BJP definitely needed some changes in its higher management and inducing a new face should help them.

Mr. Vajpayee has already taken retirement from active politics and Mr. Advani is on the verge of it but their immense experience can be of great help to the new BJP chief.

This is the right time for BJP to go for a image change and attract those who have shifted their loyalties to other parties.

Credit is due to Vajpayee, Advani and others who created BJP out of Jan Sangh in 1980.While RSS claimed to be its parent body and called BJP its "political wing" , these leaders very carefully scripted a course for BJP.It was due to their tactics that BJP could rule from the centre (in coalition with others) for six years.However, Atalji's exit in 2004 and Advani's emergence as full fledged Leader affected BJP's popularity and voters' preferences.So BJP lost much in 2004 LS polls and very badly in 2009 polls!This led to severe infighting among the leaders. Consequently,the new RSS Chief coolly took the reins of control and has carries out some cosmetic changes.Hence, there cannot be two opinions that"the end of Atal-Advani era is abig set-back to BJP!

I disjoin with the politics of Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Advani. But I respect the courage of conviction they have shown throughout their political career. It can be a setback for any political party to loose leaders like them. But how long such a setback will last depends on the strength of the ideology of a party.

The two men in their eighties have had their day in politics. It is only in India that "pitamaha" type of figures continue to occupy positions of power long after age has caught up with them. Nowhere in the world do such elderly men continue to be in politics. The Indian culture of deferring to age results in younger politicians getting totally side lined. The Congress is no better than the BJP in this respect.

Nelson Mandela stepped down after just one term as President preferring to play the role of an elder statesman for South Africa without any party tag. Today he is loved by all South Africans.

Atal and Advani should now try to play the role of statesman berefit of party politics. This is a culture we have to introduce in India.

Subrata Datta

Same can be asked whether Gandhi-Nehru era was a setback of India ! These are all periodic chnages that should happen in the life of a political party or for that matter in the life of a nation. We cannot have leaders like Kim Il Sung or Stalin for their entire lives. This is democracy at work. Leaders have a limited span of effectiveness: be it in politcs or in business. That is what some political parties and business houses fail to realize. As our elders used to go for 'Vanaprastha', to allow the new generation to take the reins outside their own shadows, all leaders need to step down from their thrones, when they feel it is time. It is very difficult for this realization to occur, when you have are still in that position. We should congratulate this duo for working so well as a team and making their political party, a major voice in the Indian political mainstream. India will ever be indebted to these two great leaders, in making our nation even greater.