From correspondents in Delhi, India, 04:30 PM IST

Lal Krishna Advani, the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial hopeful, could never have imagined that he would be measured up against US President George W. Bush but that's exactly what happened Saturday - courtesy the Samajwadi Party.

All keyed up with his new love for the Congress-led government, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh told reporters: 'L.K. Advani is more lethal than George Bush.'

His reasoning was that his party had to choose between the secular and non-secular forces but the political reasoning apart, the remark is sure to raise the hackles of both Advani and Bush.

Amar Singh, of course, doesn't have to live with Bush, whose term ends in January, but he certainly will have to live with Advani, whether or not the BJP comes to power after next year's general elections.

Advani, thus far, has maintained a stunned silence but the wily politician most certainly must be crafting an appropriate response.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)