The Union Cabinet on Thursday is understood to have expressed hope that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will continue to lead the country for many more years.

This followed Vajpayee's statement on Wednesday that his deputy Lal Kishenchand Advani will lead the Bharatiya Janata Party to victory in the next general election.

When the Cabinet met on Thursday morning, Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi congratulated Vajpayee on his successful three-nation tour and hoped he will continue to lead the country in future also.

The BJP leadership too, meanwhile, rallied behind Vajpayee saying he would remain the party's undisputed leader.