Following is the text of Lal Kishenchand Advani's letter of resignation as Bharatiya Janata Party president addressed to party General Secretary Sanjay Joshi.

"My dear Sanjayji, I am writing this letter just before departing from Karachi. I have decided to request the party to relieve me of presidentship. I am sure acceding to my request would be in the best interests of the great cause I have served all my life, as also of the party which has given me so much. I have taken this decision after pondering the matter very carefully. And I believe that my visit to Pakistan last week has immensely reinforced the initiatives taken by the NDA [National Democratic Alliance] government to bring about peace and normalcy with Pakistan. I have not said or done anything in Pakistan, which I need to retract or review."