Sushma Swaraj Leader of Opposition

Sushma Swaraj is all set to become Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha while Nitin Gadkari will take over as the new BJP president. L K Advani will play the role of friend-philosopher-guide to the party and the RSS is learnt to have asked him to mentor the new party leadership.Sources said a change of guard in the BJP Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha could come as early as Friday — the party has called a Parliamentary Party meeting at 5.30 pm — when Advani will address the party MPs. The MPs are also likely to amend the party constitution and create a new post of BJP Parliamentary Party chairman which will go to Advani.

After passing on the baton, Advani, 82, is expected to play a role similar to one played by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the 14th Lok Sabha. At a later stage, Advani could also be made NDA chairperson. Source said Advani would continue to actively nurse his Gandhinagar constituency.

Earlier this week, Advani had showered fulsome praise on Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley for “making the BJP an effective Opposition in both Houses of Parliament for the second successive session”.

On Saturday, the BJP Parliamentary Board will meet where party president Rajnath Singh is expected to formally announce his decision to quit from the post, sources said. Gadkari, who is the present Maharashtra BJP chief, will meet the Parliamentary Board members after being anointed the new president. He is likely to reach New Delhi by Friday.

Advani had made it known to the RSS leadership that he would like Sushma Swaraj, 57, to succeed him in the Lok Sabha. RSS chief Bhagwat and Advani had a broad understanding over Gadkari’s name too — something that is expected to help the 52-year-old fight the huge odds that an “outsider” could face in the BJP national team.