Suffered Inferiority Complex Due To Vajpayee's Oratorical Skills: Adva

November 8, 2011

[b]leader [url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Lal-Krishna-Advani"]LK Advani[/url] on Tuesday said he suffered from an inferiority complex due to the oratorical skills of his party colleague [url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee"]Atal Bihari Vajpayee[/url] and now has the same problem when he hears Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.

"I had told Atal Bihari Vajpayee in early 1970s that I have developed an inferiority complex due to your speeches... I tell the same to [url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sushma-Swaraj"]Sushma Swaraj[/url] also. I really mean it," Advani said at a programme held here to mark his 85th birthday.

Advani maintained that he was shy of public speaking till the 1960s and wanted to avoid addressing large crowds. He recalled that in 1968 Vajpayee became president of the erstwhile Jan Sangh - which became BJP after the Emergency - and after holding the post for a few years wanted to pass on the baton to him.

"I declined saying I could not give public speeches and suggested that we should make Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia the president," Advani said.

However, when the Rajmata refused and others also could not take over the mantle, Advani had to take over. By and by he developed the confidence to address large gatherings. "I was in awe of Atalji and earlier felt that if politicians spoke so well, then I would not be able to make it," Advani said.

In her address, Swaraj described Advani as a "father-like figure" for her who respected her so much despite an age difference of 25-26 years.[/b]