End of an era in Indian politics: MP CM on Vajpayee
17/08/2018
Bhopal, Aug 16: Leaders cutting across political parties mourned today the death of former Prime Minister and BJP patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In his tribute, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has described Vajpayee's demise as end of "an era of politics". Senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia too have expressed profound grief over Vajpayee's death. Vajpayee died at AIIMS in Delhi at 93 after prolonged illness.
"I pay a tearful tribute to respected Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji. This is a sad moment for all of us. We have lost a father figure, who showed us new path and gave us courage to fight the challenges. A political era ended today," Chouhan said in a tweet. Earlier in the day, the chief minister cancelled all his scheduled programmes today to rush to New Delhi following news reports about worsening health of Vajpayee.
Chouhan had also cancelled his ongoing 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' in Chhindwara district today. Talking to reporters before leaving for Delhi, Chouhan said he grew close to Vajpayee when the latter was contesting the Vidisha Lok Sabha polls in 1991.
"I was serving as the state unit president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha at that time. It was my responsibility to campaign for him (Vajpayee). After he vacated the seat, the BJP decided to field me from Vidisha," he recalled.
Chouhan reminisced that Vajpayee used to call him "Vidisha pati", whenever he went to meet him after winning the seat. Vajpayee was a true statesman and an inspiration for the BJP, he said.
Madhya Pradesh unit Congress president Kamal Nath termed Vajpayee as an indisputable leader.
"An era has ended with the sad demise of former Prime Minister of the country Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was a great orator, having an indisputable image and supporter of democratic values as well as representing ideal political values. This is an irreparable loss and end of political era," Nath said in a tweet.
Senior Congress leader and Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia has also expressed grief. Soon after getting news of Vajpayee's demise, Scindia, who was addressing a rally at Gairatganj, stopped his speech midway and left for Delhi via Bhopal.
State BJP president Rakesh Singh remembered Vajpayee as the most successful Prime Minister.
"He was a source of inspiration for the entire country as well as the BJP," he said.
Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Ajay Singh (Congress) said Vajpayee was a leader who was accepted to all.
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