All about atal bihari vajpayee biography

Prime Minister of Bharat (; –)

"Vajpayee" redirects here. Endorse other uses, see Bajpai.

Atal Sanskrit Vajpayee^[1] (25 December &#;–&#;16 Revered ) was an Indian legislator, statesman and poet who served as the prime minister complete India, first for a title of 13&#;days in , followed by for a period of 13&#;months from to , followed soak a full term from disobey ^[2] He was the pass with flying colours non-Congress prime minister to assist a full term in primacy office. Vajpayee was one substantiation the co-founders and a high-flying leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was a contributor of the RSS, a Hindi nationalist volunteer organisation. He was also a Hindi poet near a writer.^[3][4]

He was a participator of the Indian Parliament be selected for over five decades, having antique elected ten times to honourableness Lok Sabha, the lower dwelling, and twice to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house. Pacify served as the Member a choice of Parliament from Lucknow, Gwalior, Original Delhi and Balrampur constituencies, heretofore retiring from active politics crate due to health concerns. Prohibited was among the founding comrades of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, of which he was executive from to The BJS compound with several other parties survive form the Janata Party, which won the general election. Din in March , Vajpayee became loftiness Minister of External Affairs operate the cabinet of Prime Pastor Morarji Desai. He resigned update , and the Janata pact collapsed soon after. Former employees of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed the Bharatiya Janata Assemblage in , with Vajpayee tight first president.

During his drag as prime minister, India sit on out the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in Vajpayee sought to swelling diplomatic relations with Pakistan, peripatetic to Lahore by bus stop meet with Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif. After the Kargil Battle with Pakistan, he sought accord restore relations through engagement pounce on President Pervez Musharraf, inviting him to India for a cap at Agra. Vajpayee's government imported many domestic economic and infrastructural reforms, including encouraging the wildcat sector and foreign investments, reaction governmental waste, encouraging research spreadsheet development and privatisation of pitiless government owned corporations.^[5] During sovereign tenure, India's security was imperilled by a number of beastly incidents including Indian Parliament stabbing and Gujarat riots which keeping pace caused his defeat in communal election.

Vajpayee was conferred collide with the Padma Vibhushan in , India's second highest civilian jackpot by the Government of Bharat. The administration of Narendra Modi declared in that Vajpayee's regale, 25&#;December would be marked sort Good Governance Day. In , he was honoured India's chief civilian honour - Bharat Ratna, by the then President engage in India, Pranab Mukherjee. He labour in due to age-related madness.

Early life and education

Vajpayee was born into a Kanyakubja Varna family on 25&#;December in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.^[6][7] His mother was Krishna Devi and his holy man was Krishna Bihari Vajpayee. Culminate father was a school guru in Gwalior.^[9] His grandfather, Shyam Lal Vajpayee, had migrated cause somebody to Morena, Madhya Pradesh from BateshwarUttar Pradesh. Later he shifted picture Gwalior from Morena for unscramble opportunities.

Vajpayee did his principal schooling at the Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Gwalior and high academy education from the Gorkhi High school, Gwalior.^[10] He subsequently attended Gwalior's Victoria College, (now Maharani Laxmi Bai Govt. College of Excellence) where he graduated with systematic Bachelor of Arts in Sanskrit, English and Sanskrit. Later go allout for master's degree the Scindia house of erstwhile Gwalior state approved him monthly scholarship of Manage 75 and with this schooling support he completed his post-graduation with a Master of Subject in political science from DAV College, Kanpur, Agra University.^[7][11][12]

Early scowl as activist

His activism started ordinary Gwalior with Arya Kumar Sabha, the youth wing of authority Arya Samaj movement, of which he became the general penman in He also joined distinction Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pierce as a swayamsevak, or let oneself in for in Gwalior at the ferret of 12 years. Influenced spawn Babasaheb Apte, he attended say publicly Officers Training Camp of righteousness RSS during to , acceptable a pracharak (RSS terminology promoter a full-time worker) in Inaccuracy gave up studying law put an end to to the partition riots. Stylishness was sent to Uttar Pradesh as a vistarak (a exploratory pracharak) and soon began excavation for the newspapers of Deendayal Upadhyaya: Rashtradharma (a Hindi monthly), Panchjanya (a Hindi weekly), stream the dailies Swadesh and Veer Arjun.^[11][13]

By , at the move backwards of 16 years, Vajpayee became an active member of magnanimity Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) snowball joined it shakha in Gwalior along with his elder religious. Although the RSS had selected not to participate in goodness Quit India Movement, in Venerable , Vajpayee and his venerable brother Prem were arrested muddle up 24 days during the Desert India Movement. He was at large after giving a written deposition that while he was boss part of the crowd, flair did not participate in blue blood the gentry militant events in Bateshwar fabrication 27 August Throughout his guts, including after he became central minister, Vajpayee has labelled integrity allegation of participation in authority Quit India Movement to joke a false rumour.^[15]

Early political existence (–)

In , Vajpayee was attached by the RSS, along uneasiness Deendayal Upadhyaya, to work lease the newly formed Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a Hindu right-wing federal party associated with the RSS. He was appointed as straight national secretary of the element in charge of the Union region, based in Delhi. Filth soon became a follower put up with aide of party leader Syama Prasad Mukherjee. In the Amerindic general election, Vajpayee contested elections to the Lok Sabha, decency lower house of the Amerindian Parliament. He lost to Raj Mahendra Pratap in Mathura, however was elected from Balrampur.

He was influenced by Jawaharlal Solon to the extent that purify mirrored his style, diction, stream tone of his speeches.^[16][17] Nehru's influence was also evident doubtful Vajpayee's leadership.^[18] In the Lok Sabha his oratorial skills straight-faced impressed Prime Minister Nehru ramble he predicted that Vajpayee would someday become the prime pastor of India.^[19][20][21] On the circumstance of Nehru's death on 27 May , Vajpayee termed him as "the orchestrator of honesty impossible and inconceivable" and likened him to Hindu god Rama.^[22][23]

Vajpayee's oratorial skills won him righteousness reputation of being the uppermost eloquent defender of the Jana Sangh's policies.^[24] After the fatality of Upadhyaya, the leadership endorse the Jana Sangh passed get into the swing Vajpayee.^[25] He became the ceremonial president of the Jana Sangh in ,^[26] running the aggregation along with Nanaji Deshmukh, Balraj Madhok and L. K. Advani.^[25]

Janata Party and the BJP (–)

Vajpayee was arrested along with many other opposition leaders during birth Internal Emergency imposed by Number Minister Indira Gandhi in ^[9] Initially interned in Bangalore, Vajpayee appealed his imprisonment on class grounds of bad health, reprove was moved to a infirmary in Delhi.^[28] In December , Vajpayee ordered the student activists of the ABVP to raw an unconditional apology to Indira Gandhi for perpetrating violence champion disorder.^[29][30] The ABVP student body refused to obey his order.^[29][31]

Gandhi ended the state of dilemma in ^[32] A coalition marvel at parties, including the BJS, came together to form the Janata Party, which won the typical elections.^[33]Morarji Desai, the chosen emperor of the alliance, became magnanimity prime minister. Vajpayee served pass for the minister of external associations, or foreign minister, in Desai's cabinet.^[34] As foreign minister, Vajpayee became the first person gauzy to deliver a speech limit the United Nations General Confluence in Hindi.^[34]

In , Desai forward Vajpayee resigned, triggering the fall in a faint of the Janata Party.^[28][35] Ethics erstwhile members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh came together detain form the Bharatiya Janata Troop (BJP) in , with Vajpayee as its first President.^[36]

Leading share to Operation Bluestar, there were several protests by Sangh Parivar, including a march led afford LK Advani and Vajpayee unredeemed the Bhartiya Janta Party manage protest against the lack bear witness government action and to command that the Indian Army remark sent into the Golden Temple.^[37][38]

The general elections were held proclaim the wake of Prime Clergyman Indira Gandhi's assassination by respite Sikh bodyguards. While he esoteric won the and the elections from New Delhi, Vajpayee shifted to his home town Gwalior for the election.^[39]

Vidya Razdan was initially tipped to be glory Congress candidate. Instead, Madhavrao Scindia, scion of the Gwalior sovereign august family, was brought in leave the last day of filing nominations.^[40] Vajpayee lost to Scindia, managing to secure only 29% of the votes.^[39]

Under Vajpayee, grandeur BJP moderated the Hindu-nationalist tag of the Jana Sangh, emphasising its connection to the Janata Party and expressing support sponsor Gandhian Socialism.^[41] The ideological edge did not bring it good fortune and Indira Gandhi's assassination generated sympathy for the Congress, principal to a massive victory clichйd the polls. The BJP won only two seats in parliament.^[41] Vajpayee offered to quit sort party president following BJP's dreary performance in the election,^[42] however stayed in the post up in the air ^[43] He was elected squeeze the Rajya Sabha in suffer the loss of Madhya Pradesh,^[44] and was succinctly the leader of the BJP in Parliament.^[45]

In , L. Teenaged. Advani took office as chair of the BJP.^[46] Under him, the BJP returned to unadorned policy of hardline Hindu nationalism.^[41] It became the political speak of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Movement, which sought to erect a temple dedicated to honesty Hindu deity Rama in Ayodhya. The temple would be practice at a site believed humble be the birthplace of Potential after demolishing a 16th-century asylum, called the Babri Masjid, which then stood there.^[47] The contrivance paid off for the BJP; it won 86 seats send the Lok Sabha in integrity general election, making its investment crucial to the government unsaved V. P. Singh.^[41] In Dec , a group of celestial volunteers led by members tinge the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), tore influence the mosque.^[48][24]

He served as Associate of Parliament, Lok Sabha, attach importance to various terms starting at Balrampur from – He served regulate from Balrampur from –, verification from Gwalior from –, lecture then from New Delhi unfamiliar – Finally, he served give birth to Lucknow from –^[49]

Prime minister ( and –99)

See also: Premiership strain Atal Bihari Vajpayee

First term: Might

See also: First Vajpayee ministry

During a BJP conference in Bombay in November , BJP Overseer Advani declared that Vajpayee would be the party's prime monastic candidate in the forthcoming elections. Vajpayee himself was reported difficulty be unhappy with the publicize, responding by saying that primacy party needed to win dignity election first.^[50] The BJP became the single largest party export Parliament in the general choice, helped by religious polarisation loudly the country as a untie of the demolition of high-mindedness Babri Masjid. Indian president Shankar Dayal Sharma invited Vajpayee disclose form the government. Vajpayee was sworn in as the Tenth prime minister of India, however the BJP failed to come together a majority among members go together with the Lok Sabha. Vajpayee prepared to accept after 16 days, when pass became clear that he upfront not have enough support habitation form a government. In that short period, he also built and administered the Ministry handle Consumer Affairs, Food and Citizens Distribution.

Second term: –

See also: Second Vajpayee ministry

After the make your home in of the two United Advance governments between and , rank Lok Sabha was dissolved dowel fresh elections were held. Birth general elections again put magnanimity BJP ahead of others. On the rocks number of political parties connubial the BJP to form nobleness National Democratic Alliance (NDA), have a word with Vajpayee was sworn in in the same way the prime minister.^[56] The alliance was an uneasy one,^[33] renovation apart from the Shiv Sena, none of the other parties espoused the BJP's Hindu-nationalist convictions. Vajpayee has been credited on behalf of managing this coalition successfully, determine facing ideological pressure from illustriousness hardline wing of the troop and from the RSS.^[28] Vajpayee's government lasted 13 months depending on mid when the All Bharat Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) under J. Jayalalithaa withdrew neat support.^[58] The government lost picture ensuing vote of confidence transit in the Lok Sabha alongside a single vote on 17 April As the opposition was unable to come up assort the numbers to form integrity new government, the Lok Sabha was again dissolved and not used to elections were held.^[60]

Nuclear tests

See also: Pokhran-II

In May , India conducted five underground nuclear tests domestic animals the Pokhran desert in Rajasthan, 24 years after its leading nuclear test, operation Smiling Angel in Two weeks later, Pakistan responded with its own fissile tests making it the all the rage nation with declared nuclear ingenuity. While some nations, such by the same token France, endorsed India's right fulfil defensive nuclear power, others plus the United States, Canada, Gild, Britain and the European Combining imposed sanctions on information, arrange a deal and technology to India. Suspend spite of intense international judgement and steady decline in overseas investment and trade, the fissionable tests were popular domestically. Bill effect, the international sanctions prescribed failed to sway India take from weaponising its nuclear capability. Horrifying sanctions against India and Pakistan were eventually lifted after unprejudiced six months.^[63]

Lahore summit

In late stomach early , Vajpayee began first-class push for a full-scale shrewd peace process with Pakistan. Eradicate the historic inauguration of picture Delhi-Lahore bus service in Feb , Vajpayee initiated a modern peace process aimed towards once resolving the Kashmir dispute come first other conflicts with Pakistan. Ethics resultant Lahore Declaration espoused a-one commitment to dialogue, expanded dealings relations and mutual friendship presentday envisaged a goal of denuclearised South Asia. This eased probity tension created by the thermonuclear tests, not only within say publicly two nations but also currency South Asia and the upper of the world.^[64][65]

AIADMK's withdrawal deviate coalition

The AIADMK had continually near extinction to withdraw from the coalescence and national leaders repeatedly flew down from Delhi to City to pacify the AIADMK prevailing secretary J. Jayalalithaa. However, make out May , the AIADMK withdrew from NDA, and the Vajpayee administration was reduced to marvellous caretaker status pending fresh elections scheduled for October ^[66]

Kargil War

Further information: Kargil War

In May repellent Kashmiri shepherds discovered the showing of militants and non-uniformed Asiatic soldiers (many with official identifications and Pakistan Army's custom weaponry) in the Kashmir Valley, at they had taken control flaxen border hilltops and unmanned constraint posts. The incursion was focused around the town of Kargil, but also included the Batalik and Akhnoor sectors and suasion exchanges at the Siachen Glacier.^[67]

The Indian army responded with Funds Vijay, which launched on 26 May This saw the Asiatic military fighting thousands of militants and soldiers in the centre of heavy artillery shelling advocate while facing extremely cold indisposed, snow and treacherous terrain fight the high altitude. Over Amerind soldiers were killed in primacy three-month-long Kargil War, and vision is estimated around –4, Asiatic militants and soldiers died in that well.^[70][72][73] India pushed back probity Pakistani militants and Northern Peaceful Infantry soldiers. Almost 70% portend the territory was recaptured gross India. Vajpayee sent a "secret letter" to U.S. President Account Clinton that if Pakistani infiltrators did not withdraw from decency Indian territory, "we will take home them out, one way grandeur the other".^[74]

After Pakistan suffered fullsize losses, and with both leadership United States and China contrary to condone the incursion most modern threaten India to stop untruthfulness military operations, General Pervez Musharraf was recalcitrant and Nawaz Sharif asked the remaining militants covenant stop and withdraw to places or roles along the LoC.^[75] The militants were not willing to catch orders from Sharif but authority NLI soldiers withdrew.^[75] The militants were killed by the Amerindic army or forced to draw out in skirmishes which continued level after the announcement of removal abjuration by Pakistan.^[75]

Prime Minister (–)

See also: Third Vajpayee ministry

–

The general elections were held in the backwash of the Kargil operations. Influence BJP-led NDA won seats dwindling of the seats in significance Lok Sabha, securing a relaxed and stable majority.^[76] On 13 October , Vajpayee took guarantee as the prime minister observe India for the third time.^[77]

A national crisis emerged in Dec , when Indian Airlines path IC from Kathmandu to Original Delhi was hijacked by fin terrorists and flown to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.^[78] The hijackers made various demands including the release cherished certain terrorists like Masood Azhar from prison. Under pressure, dignity government ultimately caved in. Jaswant Singh, the then minister suffer defeat external affairs, flew with honourableness terrorists to Afghanistan and correlative them for the passengers.^[79]

In Go on foot , Bill Clinton, the Vice-president of the United States, engender a feeling of a state visit to India.^[80] This was the first put down visit to India by cool U.S. president in 22 period, since President Jimmy Carter's give back in ^[81] President Clinton's homecoming was hailed as a vital milestone in relations between rank two nations.^[80] Vajpayee and Politician had wide-ranging discussions on joint, regional and international developments.^[82] Greatness visit led to expansion restrict trade and economic ties halfway India and the United States.^[83] A vision document on significance future course of Indo-U.S. dealings was signed during the visit.^[84]

Domestically, the BJP-led government was stricken by the RSS, but diffused to its dependence on coalescence support, it was impossible joyfulness the BJP to push certainty like building the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, repealing Write off which gave a special degree to the state of Cashmere, or enacting a uniform mannerly code applicable to adherents surrounding all religions. On 17 Jan , there were reports accomplish the RSS and some BJP hard-liners threatening to restart say publicly Jan Sangh, the precursor advice the BJP, because of their discontent over Vajpayee's rule. Plague president of the Jan Sangh Balraj Madhok had written elegant letter to the then-RSS dominant Rajendra Singh for support.^[85] Magnanimity BJP was, however, accused publicize "saffronising" the official state schooling curriculum and apparatus, saffron body the colour of the RSS flag of the RSS, gleam a symbol of the Hindi nationalism movement.^[86] Home Minister Praise. K. Advani and the Android Resource Development Minister (now commanded Education Minister)^[87]Murli Manohar Joshi were indicted in the Babri Temple demolition case for inciting spick mob of activists. Vajpayee themselves came under public scrutiny acceptably to his controversial speech reminder day prior to the nature demolition.^[88]

These years were accompanied lump infighting in the administration spreadsheet confusion regarding the direction pointer government.^[89][90] Vajpayee's weakening health was also a subject of key interest, and he underwent far-out major knee-replacement surgery at honesty Breach Candy Hospital in City to relieve intense pressure come into contact with his legs.^[91]

In March , blue blood the gentry Tehelka group released a strict operation video named Operation Westbound End which showed BJP top banana Bangaru Laxman, senior army work force cane and NDA members accepting bribes from journalists posing as agents and businessmen.^[92][93] The Defence Clergyman George Fernandes was forced border on resign following the Barak 1 scandal involving the botched materials of coffins for the general public killed in Kargil, and ethics findings of an inquiry doze that the government could enjoy prevented the Kargil invasion.^[94]

Vajpayee initiated talks with Pakistan and reception Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf hug Agra for a joint cap. President Musharraf was believed telling off be the principal architect short vacation the Kargil War in India.^[95] By accepting him as honesty President of Pakistan, Vajpayee chose to move forward leaving shake off the Kargil War. But aft three days of much fanfaronade, which included Musharraf visiting birthplace in Delhi, the end failed to achieve a discovery as President Musharraf declined turn into leave aside the issue portend Kashmir.^[96]

attack on Parliament

Main article: Indian Parliament attack

On 13 Dec , a group of disguised, armed men with fake IDs stormed Parliament House in Delhi.^[97] The terrorists managed to ability several security guards, but distinction building was sealed off fast and security forces cornered most important killed the men who were later proven to be Pakistan nationals. Vajpayee ordered Indian throng to mobilise for war, valuable to an estimated ,^[99] collision ,^[] Indian soldiers positioned move forwards the international border between Bharat and Pakistan under Operation Parakram. Pakistan responded by mobilising fraudulence own troops along the fringe leading to the military standoff.^[99] A terrorist attack on require army garrison in Kashmir cloudless May further escalated the conclusion. As the threat of conflict between two nuclear capable countries and the consequent possibility rule a nuclear exchange loomed supple, international diplomatic mediation focused art defusing the situation.^[] In Oct , both India and Pakistan announced that they would disavow their troops from the border.^[]

The Vajpayee administration brought in excellence Prevention of Terrorism Act ancestry The act was aimed soft curbing terrorist threats by intensification powers of government authorities hide investigate and act against suspects.^[][] It was passed in great joint session of the assembly, amidst concerns that the prohibited would be misused.^[]

Another political accident hit his government between Dec and March with the VHP and the Government engaging unsubtle a major standoff in Ayodhya over the Ram temple. Snitch the 10th anniversary of nobility destruction of the Babri church, the VHP wanted to exercise a shila daan, or keen ceremony laying the foundation remove of the cherished temple near the disputed site.^[] Thousands frequent VHP activists amassed and imperilled to overrun the site humbling forcibly perform the ceremony.^[][] Orderly threat of communal violence move breakdown of law and set up owing to the defiance classic the government by a metaphysical organisation hung over the nationstate. The incident, however, ended plain with a symbolic handover scholarship a stone at a separate location 1&#;km away from prestige disputed site.^[]

Gujarat violence

Main article: Gujarat riots

In February , fastidious train filled with Hindu pilgrims returning to Gujarat from Ayodhya stopped in the town invite Godhra. A scuffle broke copy between Hindu activists and Mohammedan residents, and the train was set on fire, leading emphasize the deaths of 59 multitude. The charred bodies of prestige victims were displayed in toggle in the city of Ahmedabad, and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad called for a statewide drum in Gujarat. These decisions stoked anti-Muslim sentiments.^[] Blaming Muslims pick up the deaths, rampaging Hindu mobs killed thousands of Muslim lower ranks and women, destroying Muslim casing and places of worship. Prestige violence raged for more top two months, and more prevail over 1, people died.^[] Gujarat was being ruled by a BJP government, with Narendra Modi reorganization the chief minister. The bring back government was criticised for mishandle the situation.^[] It was prisoner of doing little to end the violence, and even body complicit in encouraging it.^[][]

Vajpayee reportedly wanted to remove Modi on the contrary was eventually prevailed upon manage without party members to not operate against him.^[][] He travelled equal Gujarat, visiting Godhra, and Ahmedabad, the site of the governing violent riots. He announced fiscal aid for victims and urged an end to the violence.^[] While he condemned the violence,^[] he did not chastise Modi directly in public. When on one\'s own initiative as to what his turn heads to the chief minister export the event of the riots would be, Vajpayee responded renounce Modi must follow raj dharma, Hindi for ethical governance.^[]

At integrity meeting of the BJP nationwide executive in Goa in Apr , Vajpayee's speech generated debate for its contents which star him saying: "Wherever Muslims preserve, they don't like to last in co-existence with others."^[][] Influence Prime Minister's Office stated range these remarks had been working engaged out of context.^[] Vajpayee was accused of doing nothing on touching stop the violence, and consequent admitted mistakes in handling nobleness events.^[]K. R. Narayanan, then administrator of India, also blamed Vajpayee's government for failing to crowd the violence. After the BJP's defeat in the general elections, Vajpayee admitted that not house-moving Modi had been a mistake.^[]

–

In late and the government suspended through economic reforms.^[] The country's GDP growth exceeded 7% now and again year from to , consequent three years of sub-5% growth.^[] Increasing foreign investment,^[] modernisation dominate public and industrial infrastructure, goodness creation of jobs, a revolution high-tech and IT industry take urban modernisation and expansion built the nation's international image. Pleasant crop harvests and strong profit-making expansion also helped the economy.^[]

In May , he announced beforehand the parliament that he would make one last effort appoint achieve peace with Pakistan. Rectitude announcement ended a period some 16 months, following the battering on the Indian parliament, sooner than which India had severed skilful ties with Pakistan.^[] Although sympathetic relations did not pick captivate immediately, visits were exchanged contempt high-level officials and the brave standoff ended. The Pakistani Pilot and Pakistani politicians, civil take religious leaders hailed this first move as did the leaders give a miss the United States, Europe dowel much of the world. Domestic July , Prime Minister Vajpayee visited China and met append various Chinese leaders. He constituted Tibet as a part supplementary China, which was welcomed wedge the Chinese leadership, and which, in the following year, accepted Sikkim as part of Bharat. China–India relations improved greatly reveal the following years.^[]

Policies

Vajpayee's government imported many domestic economic and infrastructural reforms, including encouraging the covert sector and foreign investments, reduction governmental waste, encouraging research plus development and privatisation of several government owned corporations.^[5] Among Vajpayee's projects were the National Highways Development Project and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.^[][] In , the Vajpayee government launched rendering Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan campaign, highly thought of at improving the quality closing stages education in primary and less important schools.^[][]

general election

In , information reports suggested a tussle guts the BJP with regard cause somebody to sharing of leadership between Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister Converse Advani.^[][] BJP president Venkaiah Naidu had suggested that Advani mildew lead the party politically invective the general elections, referring coalesce Vajpayee as vikas purush, Sanskrit for development man, and Advani as loh purush, iron man.^[] When Vajpayee subsequently threatened retreat, Naidu backtracked, announcing that ethics party would contest the elections under the twin leadership explain Vajpayee and Advani.^[]

The NDA was widely expected to retain arduousness after the general election. Set aside announced elections six months take forward of schedule, hoping to cypher on economic growth, and Vajpayee's peace initiative with Pakistan.^[][] Distinction 13th Lok Sabha was dissolved before the completion of tight term. The BJP hoped there capitalise on a perceived 'feel-good factor' and BJP's recent clean in the Assembly elections confined Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Under the "India Shining" push, it released ads proclaiming goodness economic growth of the spectacle under the government.^[][]

However, the BJP could only win seats envelop the seat parliament,^[] with not too prominent cabinet ministers being defeated.^[] The NDA coalition won room. The Indian National Congress, arranged by Sonia Gandhi, emerged primate the single largest party, sweetened seats in the election. Primacy Congress and its allies, broad many smaller parties, formed nobleness United Progressive Alliance, accounting optimism seats in the parliament.^[] Vajpayee resigned as prime minister.^[] Say publicly UPA, with the outside strengthen of communist parties, formed interpretation next government with Manmohan Singh as the prime minister.^[]

Post-premiership

In Dec , Vajpayee announced his loneliness from active politics, declaring delay he would not contest fit into place the next general election. Hold a famous statement at glory BJP's silver jubilee rally kismet Mumbai's Shivaji Park, Vajpayee declared that "Henceforth, Lal Krishna Advani and Pramod Mahajan will hide the Ram-Lakshman [the two good brothers much revered and idolized by Hindus of the BJP."^[]

Vajpayee was referred to as justness Bhishma Pitamah of Indian polity by former prime minister Manmohan Singh during a speech hassle the Rajya Sabha, a note to the character in rectitude Hindu epic Mahabharata who was held in respect by pair warring sides.^[]

Vajpayee was hospitalised exceed All India Institute of Medicine roborant Sciences, Delhi (AIIMS) for marvellous chest infection and fever denouement 6 February He was place on ventilator support as culminate condition worsened but he one day recuperated and was later discharged.^[] Unable to participate in integrity campaign for the general choice due to his poor fettle, he wrote a letter importunity voters to back the BJP.^[] His protege Lalji Tandon was able to retain the Metropolis seat in that election flush though the NDA suffered electoral reverses all over the territory. It was speculated that Vajpayee's non-partisan appeal contributed to Lalji's success in Lucknow in compare to that BJP's poor act elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh.^[]

Positions held

Further information: Electoral history of Atal Bihari Vajpayee