The Bharatiya Janata Party rallied behind Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Kishenchand Advani [Images] after they were criticised by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief K Sudarshan.

Sudarshan had told NDTV in an interview that Vajpayee and Advani should pave way for the second rung of leaders in the party.

Advani should remain BJP chief: RSS

Sudarshan also made personal remarks against the former prime minister in NDTV's Walk the Talk programme anchored by Shekhar Gupta, editor-in-chief of the Indian Express group of newspapers.

A meeting of BJP general secretaries Pramod Mahajan [Images], Arun Jaitley [Images], Sanjay Bhai Joshi and Rajnath Singh was held at the residence of Advani on Monday evening.

Advani presided over the meeting.

Jaswant Singh and Sushma Swaraj were special invitees at the meeting that lasted over three hours.

Jaswant also had a one-to-one meeting with Vajpayee later.

Addressing media persons after the meeting, Arun Jaitley said the party reposed full faith in the leadership of Vajpayee and Advani.

"The party has taken note of the comments made by Sudarshanji, but the BJP is of the opinion that the government under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji was one of the best performing governments," he said.

He listed the achievements of the Vajpayee government, which he said had provided the country with leadership and direction.

"Under Atalji's leadership the country became a nuclear power. India emerged as a stronger economic power and the policies of the government got a global appreciation," he said.

He declined to answer any question from the press beyond reading a well-drafted statement and steered clear of joining issues with Sundarshan on various points raised by him during his controversial interview.

Also see: After brickbats, RSS bouquet for BJP