Former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee died on Thursday. The former Prime Minister had been ailing for some time now. He was admitted to AIIMS nine weeks ago, on 11 June. Vajpayee was 93 years old and was born on December 25, 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

Vajpayee was sworn-in as the 10th Prime Minister of India in 1996, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party in 1996 general elections. He failed to prove majority in the Parliament and had to resign after 13 days. In 1998, Vajpayee became the prime minister again.

This time the BJP lead government lasted for 13 months. In the general election held in 1999, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance secured 303 seats paving the way for Vajpayee to become prime minister for the third time.

Vajpayee became the first non Congress Prime Minister to have completed the full five year term as India's Prime Minister.

The former prime minister had also participated in Indian freedom struggle. He was first arrested in 1942 during ‘Quit India Movement’. Vajpayee also worked with Deendayal Upadhyaya to form the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a Hindu right-wing political party associated with the Rashtriya Sawamsewak Sangh (RSS).

From 1975 to 1977, Vajpayee was arrested along with several other opposition leaders during the Internal Emergency imposed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The former prime minister was responsible for the formation of Janata Party against the Congress in 1977. He also served as the Minister of External Affairs in Prime Minister Morarji Desai's cabinet.

Vajpayee was the first person to deliver a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi. The three-time former PM along with L.K Advani and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat formed the BJP in 1980.

Vajpayee was one of the tallest political leaders in post-independent India. An excellent orator, a statesman, a poet and most importantly, a leader of the masses, Atal ji, as he was known lovingly called by his supporters, will also be remembered for his fiery speeches both inside and outside the parliament. Vajpayee was not only an effective leader when in power, but also a force to reckon when he was in Opposition for close to 40 years. He was also someone who could cut across the political spectrum, and was respected by leaders across the party lines.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 16, 2018 05:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).