Photos: When Vajpayee arrived in Parliament on a bullock cart, and more
Updated On Aug 17, 2018 09:04 AM IST
Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the first non-Congress leader to serve a full term in power, died August 16, 2018 at AIIMS in New Delhi, where he had been undergoing treatment for a kidney ailment since June. Renowned for his powerful oratory and poetry, Vajpayee, 93, one of the founder members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), served as prime minister for 13 days in 1996, 13 months (1998-99) at the head of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and then for a full five year term (1999-2004). A look at the life and times of the gentleman politician.
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A 1973 photo of Atal Bihari Vajpayee arriving at Parliament House on a bullock cart to protest against the increase in petrol and kerosene prices. (HT File Photo)
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Then minister of external affairs Atal Bihari Vajpayee seen on June 26, 1978. He began his journey as an activist with the Arya Kumar Sabha of Gwalior, the youth wing of the Arya Samaj, of which he became the general secretary in 1944. In 1939, he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and became a “full-time worker” in 1947. (N Thyagarajan / HT Archive)
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Vajpayee addresses a rally organised by non-Congress parties in New Delhi on September 1, 1988. (HT Archive)
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Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee with former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma in Delhi on March 20, 1998. (HT Archive)
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Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Shiv Sena Leader Bal Thackeray at an election rally in Mumbai on February 6, 1998. (HT Archive)
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Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee meets with AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa on October 8, 1998 in New Delhi. (HT Archive)
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Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar meets with Atal Bihari Vajpayee on April 3, 1998. (HT Archive)
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Atal Bihari Vajpayee being received by Nelson Mandela on his arrival in Durban to attend the inauguration of the 12th NAM Summit on September 2, 1998. (HT Archive)
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Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh with then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on June 15, 2003. (Arvind Yadav / HT Archive)
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M Karunanidhi felicitates Atal Bihari Vajpayee, after he was elected the Leader of NDA at Central Hall of Parliament House on October 9, 1999 in New Delhi. (HT Archive)
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Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif meet following bilateral talks at the 10th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit in 1998. (HT Archive)
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