Panaji/New Delhi, Sep 22 (IANS) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manohar Parrikar has likened party veteran L.K. Advani to ageing pickle and said his political innings were "more or less over". Most party leaders preferred to remain silent to the remarks.

Advani had only a couple of more years left in active politics, the former Goa chief minister told a local news channel Monday.

"Pickle tastes good when it is left to mature for a year. But when if you keep it for more than two years, it turns rancid... Advani-ji's period is more or less over. Another couple of years, maybe. But he should be around as a guide or a mentor for the party members," Parrikar said.

However, Parrikar, currently leader of opposition in the Goa assembly, said Advani had been the best leader in the BJP in terms of integrity and character. "I have great respect for Advani-ji on these counts," he said.

Calling for a change in guard at the party's helm, Parrikar, 54, said it would have to project a new youthful face with credibility.

"I am not against elders, but the BJP should give prominence to leaders who are between 40 and 60 years," he said.

Party spokesperson Ravi Shanker Prasad refused to answer any queries on the matter.

"I don't know anything. I am not supposed to react to everything," he said and hung up.

While Prakash Javadekar, another party spokesperson, did not respond to calls, Rajiv Pratap Rudy's cell phone was switched off.

Said party vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: "I would not know about this; I was busy with Eid festivities."