Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of India's most charismatic leaders who led the nation through several crises and held together a tenuous coalition with his inclusive politics, died here today. He was 93.
Vajpayee, a bachelor, is survived by his adopted daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya. His death was announced by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital where he was admitted June 11 with a variety of ailments.
"It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, at 05:05 PM," the AIIMS said in a statement.
He will be will be cremated at 1:30 pm tomorrow on the banks of the Yamuna. A Vajpayee memorial may come up near Smriti Sthal.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee's final journey will begin at 1 pm tomorrow with cremation at 4 pm. His body will be taken from his residence at 6, Krishna Menon Marg to BJP HQ on Deendayal Upadhyay Marg, near New Delhi Railway Station, at 9 am.
During his political career, Vajpayee held several positions - From being the founder member of Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951 to three-times Prime Minister of India. His first brush with politics was during the Quit India Movement of August 1942 when he was arrested.
He was India's Prime Minister from May 16-31 in 1996; from 1998 to 1999 for a period of 13 months, and a full five-year term from October 13, 1999 to May 13, 2004.
Vajpayee was elected to Lok Sabha for seven times. He contested from 4 different states of MP, UP, Delhi and Gujarat in different elections.
Here's a look at his political career
► He embarked upon a journalist's career, which was cut short in 1951 when he joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS)
► He was one of the founders and a member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) in 1951
► He won his first election from Balrampur, UP in 1957 in the 2nd Lok Sabha election and became the Leader of the BJS in the Parliament from 1957 to 1977.
► In 1967, he was elected to the 4th Lok Sabha
► President of the BJS from 1968 to 1973
►He was detained during Emergency in 1975-77.
► Elected to the 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th 12th & 13th Lok Sabha and in 1962 & 1986 to the Rajya Sabha. He contested from 4 different states of MP, UP, Delhi and Gujarat in different elections.
►Between 1977 - 1979 he was the Minister of External Affairs.
► He was the Foreign Minister during the Morarji Desai govt in 1977
► From 1980-1986 he was the President of the BJP.
► From 1996 to 1997 he was the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
► Between 1997-1998 he was the Chairman, External Affairs Committee
► He was the External Affairs Minister and in charge of ministries and departments not allotted to any minister (1998-1999)
► He became PM thrice: from May 16-31, 1996; from 1998 to 1999 for a period of 13 months, and a full five-year term from October 13, 1999 to May 13, 2004.
► In December 2005, he retired from politics.
► He was the editor of various newspapers and magazines like Rashtra-Dharma-(monthly); Panchajanya (weekly); Swadesh and Veer Arjun, both dailies.
(With inputs from DNA Research and Archive)
