PTI
 
New Delhi, May 10: Even as the government prepared to bring a Bill in Parliament to exempt certain posts from the purview of offices of profit, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on demanded the abolition of the National Advisory Council, which was earlier headed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

"We (BJP) have already demanded its abolition," he told reporters outside the Parliament House whether the post of the NAC Chairperson should also be exempt.

Vajpayee’s remarks assume significance as the UPA government drafts a Bill which is likely to save key leaders of major political parties from disqualification.

Asked whether the BJP should look for another Lakshman in the wake of senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan’s death, he said "we will have to think about it."

"I did not search for him. I did not make him Lakshman. He became Lakshman due to his qualities," Vajpayee, who was considered as Mahajan’s mentor, said.

Asked whether the party should look for an alternative to Mahajan, he said "we will have to wait", indicating that it was not an easy task to replace the departed charismatic leader.

Vajpayee had described Mahajan as Lakshman and Advani as Ram during a meeting on the occasion of the party’s silver jubilee celebration in Mumbai December 2005.

The description was seen as an indication of the growing clout and stature of Mahajan in the saffron party.