View source for Atal Bihari Vajpayee

{{Short description|Prime Minister of India (1996; 1998–99, 1999–2004)}}
{{redirect|Vajpayee||Bajpai}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=March 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Atal Bihari Vajpayee (crop 2).jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 1998
| office              = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[BP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Prime Minister of India]]
| term_start          = 19 March 1998
| term_end            = 22 May 2004
| president           = {{ubl|[[K. R. Narayanan]]|[[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]]}}
| deputy              = [[L. K. Advani]] (from 29 June 2002)
| predecessor         = [[Inder Kumar Gujral]]
| successor           = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| term_start2         = 16 May 1996
| term_end2           = 1 June 1996
| president2          = [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]
| vicepresident2      = K. R. Narayanan
| predecessor2        = [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]
| successor2          = [[H. D. Deve Gowda]]
| office3             = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[BP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Union Minister of External Affairs]]
| term_start3         = 26 March 1977
| term_end3           = 28 July 1979
| primeminister3      = [[Morarji Desai]]
| predecessor3        = [[Yashwantrao Chavan]]
| successor3          = [[Shyam Nandan Prasad Mishra]]
| office4             = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[BP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation|Union Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation]]
| primeminister4      = ''Himself''
| term_start4         = 1 July 2002
| term_end4           = 22 May 2004
| predecessor4        = [[Maneka Gandhi]]
| successor4          = [[Oscar Fernandes]]
| primeminister5      = ''Himself''
| term_start5         = 13 October 1999
| term_end5           = 1 September 2001
| predecessor5        = ''Ministry opened''
| successor5          = [[Jagmohan]]            {{collapsed infobox section begin |cont=y |Parliamentary offices
 |titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office6             = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| term_start6         = 1991
| term_end6           = 2009
| constituency6       = [[Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency|Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| predecessor6        = [[Mandhata Singh]]
| successor6          = [[Lalji Tandon]]
| term_start7         = 1977
| term_end7           = 1984
| constituency7       = [[New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency|New Delhi]], [[Delhi]]
| predecessor7        = [[Mukul Banerjee]]
| successor7          = [[K. C. Pant]]
| term_start8         = 1971
| term_end8           = 1977
| constituency8       = [[Gwalior (Lok Sabha constituency)|Gwalior]], [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| predecessor8        = [[Ram Awtar Sharma]]
| successor8          = [[N. K. Shejwalkar]]
| term_start9         = 1967
| term_end9           = 1971
| constituency9       = [[Balrampur Lok Sabha constituency|Balrampur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| predecessor9        = [[Subhadra Joshi]]
| successor9          = Chandra Bhal Mani Tiwari
| term_start10         = 1957
| term_end10           = 1962
| constituency10       = [[Balrampur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| successor10          = Subhadra Joshi
| office11             = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
| term_start11         = 1986
| term_end11           = 1991
| constituency11       = [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| term_start12         = 1962
| term_end12           = 1967
| constituency12       = [[Uttar Pradesh]]{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
{{collapsed infobox section begin |last=y |Party political offices
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office13            = [[List of presidents of the Bharatiya Janata Party|1st National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| term_start13        = 1980
| term_end13          = 1986
| predecessor13       = ''Office established''
| successor13         = L. K. Advani
| office14            = 11th President of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh
| term_start14        = 1968
| term_end14          = 1972
| predecessor14       = [[Deendayal Upadhyaya]]
| successor14         = L. K. Advani{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date|df=y|1924|12|25}}
| birth_place         = [[Gwalior]], [[Gwalior State]], [[British India]]<br/>{{small|(present-day [[Madhya Pradesh]], India)}}
| death_date          = {{death date and age|df=y|2018|08|16|1924|12|25}}
| death_place         = [[New Delhi]], Delhi, India<!--Per WP:OVERLINK "The names of subjects with which most readers will be at least somewhat familiar," including locations with New Delhi as an example, do not typically need to be linked)-->
|module={{Infobox person|embed=yes|monuments=[[Raj Ghat and associated memorials|Sadaiv Atal]]}}
| party               = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (from 1980)
| otherparty          = {{ubl|[[Janata Party]] {{nowrap|(1977–1980)}}|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]] {{nowrap|(1951–1977)}}}}
| alma_mater          = {{indented plainlist|
* [[Maharani Laxmi Bai Govt. College of Excellence|Victoria College]], [[Gwalior]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A]])
* [[DAV College, Kanpur]] ([[Master of Arts|M.A]]){{Ref label|aaa|a}}
}}
| footnotes           = a. {{note|aaa||At the time of graduation, it was affiliated with [[Agra University]].}}
| occupation          = {{hlist|Politician|poet|writer|journalist}}
| awards              = [[#Awards and honours|See below]]
| signature           = Atal Bihari Vajpayee's signature.svg
| vicepresident       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Krishan Kant]]
* [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]]
}}
| order               = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[BP:CONSENSUS]] -->
| order2              = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[BP:CONSENSUS]] -->
| order1              = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[BP:CONSENSUS]] -->
}}

{{Atal Bihari Vajpayee series}}
'''Atal Bihari Vajpayee''' (25 December 1924&nbsp;–&nbsp;16 August 2018) was an Indian poet, writer and statesman who served as the<!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[BP:CONSENSUS]] --> [[prime minister of India]], first for a term of 13&nbsp;days in [[1996 Indian general election|1996]], then for 6 years from [[1998 Indian general election|1998]] to 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee |url=https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-atal-bihari-vajpayee-2/ |access-date=17 January 2024 |archive-date=1 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901195339/https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-atal-bihari-vajpayee-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was the first non-[[Indian National Congress|Congress]] prime minister to serve a full term in the office. Vajpayee was one of the co-founders and a senior leader of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP). He was a volunteer and full-time functionary (''[[pracharak]]'')<ref>Gandhi, Rajmohan (2015). _Modern India: A Brief History_. Aleph. pp. 331-332.</ref> of the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS), a [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] [[Hindutva]] [[paramilitary]] volunteer organisation. He was also a [[Hindi poetry|Hindi poet]] and a writer.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MdAvEAAAQBAJ&q=atal+bihari+vajpayee+poetry |title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ki Chuninda Kavitayen: Poem collection |publisher=Naye Pallav |isbn=978-81-951525-4-4 |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=शर्मा |first=अमर |title=अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी की वो 10 कविताएं, जो पत्थरों में भी जान फूंक सकती हैं |url=https://www.amarujala.com/kavya/kavya-charcha/atal-bihari-vajpayee-10-famous-poems-in-hindi-atal-bihari-vajpayee-best-poems-atal-bihari-vajpayee-birth-anniversary-atal-bihari-vajpayee-birthday-poems-shri-atal-bihari-vajpayee-ki-10-kavita-in-hindi |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127154612/https://www.amarujala.com/kavya/kavya-charcha/atal-bihari-vajpayee-10-famous-poems-in-hindi-atal-bihari-vajpayee-best-poems-atal-bihari-vajpayee-birth-anniversary-atal-bihari-vajpayee-birthday-poems-shri-atal-bihari-vajpayee-ki-10-kavita-in-hindi |url-status=live |work=Amar Ujala |access-date=27 January 2024}}</ref> The Sangh's emphasis on self-cultivation and disciplined nation-building left a lasting mark on Vajpayee's early worldview.<ref>Venkatesh, Kaalidas (2019). _Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Statesman and the Poet_. Bloomsbury. pp. 17-30; 100-112; 155-180.</ref> Scholars have observed that Vajpayee combined cultural nationalism with political moderation, shaping a distinctive strand of post-Independence Indian conservatism rooted in civilisational identity. His speeches and poetry are noted for blending political pragmatism with themes drawn from India's cultural and philosophical traditions.

Vajpayee represented a current in Hindu nationalism that sought to harmonise cultural identity with democratic pluralism.<ref>Andersen, Walter K.; Damle, Shridhar D. (2018). _The RSS: A View to the Inside_. Viking. pp. 123-125, 302-304, 315.</ref><ref>Paranjape, Makarand (2016). _Cultural Politics in Modern India: The Case of the BJP_. Routledge. pp. 89-94, 102.</ref><ref>Dasgupta, Swapan (2019). _Awakening Bharat Mata: Essays on Indian Nationalism_. Penguin. pp. 245-254, 250.</ref>

The [[List of longest-serving members of the Parliament of India|longest-serving]] member of the [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]] and its lower house, the [[Lok Sabha]], Vajpayee was a parliamentarian for over five decades, having been elected ten times to the Lok Sabha, and twice to the [[Rajya Sabha]], the upper house of Parliament. He served as the [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]] from [[Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency|Lucknow, Gwalior, New Delhi and Balrampur constituencies]], before retiring from active politics in 2009 due to health concerns. He was among the founding members of the [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]] (BJS), of which he was president from 1968 to 1972. The BJS merged with several other parties to form the [[Janata Party]], which won the [[1977 Indian general election|1977 general election]]. In March 1977, Vajpayee became the [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|minister of external affairs]] in the cabinet of Prime Minister [[Morarji Desai]]. He resigned in 1979, and the Janata alliance collapsed soon after. Former members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed the BJP in 1980, with Vajpayee as its first president.

During [[Premiership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee|his tenure as prime minister]], India carried out the [[Pokhran-II]] nuclear tests in 1998. India's emerging Nuclear posture connects national self-assertion with Vajpayee's doctrine.<ref>Tellis, Ashley J. (2001). “India's Emerging Nuclear Posture,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.</ref> Vajpayee sought to improve [[India–Pakistan relations|diplomatic relations with Pakistan]], [[Lahore Declaration|travelling to Lahore]] by bus to meet with Prime Minister, [[Nawaz Sharif]]. After the [[Kargil War|1999 Kargil War]] with Pakistan, he sought to restore relations through engagement with President [[Pervez Musharraf]], inviting him to India for a summit at [[Agra]]. Vajpayee's government introduced many [[Economic development in India|domestic economic]] and [[Infrastructure-based development|infrastructural reforms]], including encouraging the private sector and foreign investments, reducing [[government waste|governmental waste]], encouraging research and development, and the privatisation of some government owned corporations.<ref name="auto5">{{Cite news|url=http://news.in.msn.com/National/independenceday09/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3131559&page=4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021515/http://news.in.msn.com/National/independenceday09/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3131559&page=4|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2013|title=Vajpayee, the right man in the wrong party&nbsp;– 4&nbsp;&nbsp;– New...|date=4 January 2013|work=archive.is|access-date=24 July 2017}}</ref>  During Vajpayee's tenure, India faced major security challenges, including the 1999 Kargil intrusion by Pakistan-backed forces, the [[2001 Indian Parliament attack]] carried out by Pakistan-based jihadist groups, and a series of high-casualty terrorist strikes in Jammu and Kashmir. The Parliament attack in particular led to Operation Parakram, one of the largest post-Independence military mobilisations, and significantly altered India's national-security posture. 
The [[2002 Gujarat riots]] followed the burning of coach S-6 of the Sabarmati Express at Godhra, in which 59 passengers—mostly Ram Sevaks returning from Ayodhya—were killed after a mob attacked the train from outside and set it on fire. Although the riots drew national and international criticism, scholars note that Vajpayee's defeat in the [[2004 Indian general election|2004 general election]] was more directly linked to economic factors, rural distress, and the miscalculated “India Shining” campaign rather than any single event. 

Vajpayee was conferred with the [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 1992, India's second highest civilian award by the [[Government of India]]. The administration of [[Narendra Modi]] declared in 2014 that Vajpayee's birthday, 25&nbsp;December would be marked as [[Good Governance Day]]. In 2015, he was honoured India's highest civilian honour - [[Bharat Ratna]], by the then [[President of India]], [[Pranab Mukherjee]]. He died in 2018 due to age-related illness.

== Early life and education ==
Vajpayee was born into a [[Kanyakubja Brahmin]] family on 25&nbsp;December 1924 in [[Gwalior]], [[Madhya Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Singh |first1=N. K |date=31 May 1996 |title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee: A private person with strong dislikes and few close friends |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19960531-atal-bihari-vajpayee-a-private-person-with-strong-dislikes-and-few-close-friends-832968-1996-05-30 |magazine=India Today |access-date=13 October 2023 |archive-date=18 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018114416/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19960531-atal-bihari-vajpayee-a-private-person-with-strong-dislikes-and-few-close-friends-832968-1996-05-30 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.in/political-leaders/atal-bihari-vajpayee.html|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee Biography&nbsp;– About family, political life, awards won, history|website=elections.in|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724122802/http://www.elections.in/political-leaders/atal-bihari-vajpayee.html|archive-date=24 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> His mother was Krishna Devi and his father was Krishna Bihari Vajpayee.{{sfn|N P|2018|p=}} His father was a school teacher in [[Gwalior]].<ref name="nytobit">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/obituaries/atal-bihari-vajpayee-dead.html|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Former Prime Minister of India, Dies at 93|last=McFadden|first=Robert D.|access-date=16 August 2018|newspaper=The New York Times|date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816160346/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/obituaries/atal-bihari-vajpayee-dead.html|archive-date=16 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> His grandfather, Shyam Lal Vajpayee, hails from [[Morena, Madhya Pradesh|Morena]], [[Madhya Pradesh]].{{sfn|N P|2018|p=}} Later he shifted to [[Gwalior]] from Morena for better opportunities.

Vajpayee did his primary schooling at the Saraswati Shishu Mandir, [[Gwalior]] and high school education from the Gorkhi School, [[Gwalior]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Gwalior : इस स्कूल में छात्र अटल बिहारी का हाजिरी नंबर था 101, यानि सौ फीसदी से भी एक ज़्यादा! |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/madhya-pradesh/gwalior-gwalior-story-of-atal-bihari-vajpayees-gorkhi-school-in-gwalior-mpsk-mpsg-3390174.html |work=News18 हिंदी |language=hi |date=25 December 2020 |access-date=2 October 2024}}</ref> He subsequently attended Gwalior's Victoria College, (now [[Maharani Laxmi Bai Govt. College of Excellence]]) where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Hindi, English and [[Sanskrit]]. Later for master's degree the [[House of Scindia|Scindia dynasty]] of erstwhile [[Gwalior State|Gwalior state]] sanctioned him monthly scholarship of ₹75 and with this scholarship support he completed his post-graduation with a Master of Arts in political science from [[DAV College, Kanpur]], [[Agra University]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://samvada.org/2012/news/the-sangh-rss-is-my-soul-writes-atal-behari-vajpayee/|title=The Sangh (RSS) is my Soul; writes Atal Bihari Vajpayee|date=19 January 2012|work=Vishwa Samvada Kendra|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818131858/http://samvada.org/2012/news/the-sangh-rss-is-my-soul-writes-atal-behari-vajpayee/|archive-date=18 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Tiwari |first1=Deepak |date=17 August 2018 |title=Why Atal Bihari Vajpayee never spoke against Scindias of Gwalior |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2018/08/17/why-atal-bihari-vajpayee-never-spoke-against-scindias-gwalior.html |magazine=The Week |access-date=26 December 2024 |archive-date=26 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226143908/https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2018/08/17/why-atal-bihari-vajpayee-never-spoke-against-scindias-gwalior.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Commentators note that the discipline and cultural outlook of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh influenced Vajpayee's early understanding of Indian nationhood, particularly its emphasis on social reform, self-cultivation, and civilisational continuity.<ref>Jaffrelot, Christophe (1996). _The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India_. Columbia University Press. (See chapters on ideological genealogy.)</ref>

== Early works as activist ==

His activism started in [[Gwalior]] with Arya Kumar Sabha, the youth wing of the [[Arya Samaj]] movement, of which he became the general secretary in 1944. He also joined the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) in 1939 as a ''swayamsevak'', or volunteer in [[Gwalior]] at the age of 12 years. Influenced by [[Babasaheb Apte]], he attended the Officers Training Camp of the RSS during 1940 to 1944, becoming a ''pracharak'' (RSS terminology for a full-time worker) in 1947. He gave up studying law due to the [[Partition of India|partition]] riots. He was sent to Uttar Pradesh as a ''vistarak'' (a probationary ''pracharak'') and soon began working for the newspapers of [[Deendayal Upadhyaya]]: ''Rashtradharma'' (a Hindi monthly), ''[[Panchjanya (magazine)|Panchjanya]]'' (a Hindi weekly), and the dailies ''Swadesh'' and ''Veer Arjun''.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/opinion/manoj-joshi/story/outliers-prime-minister-narendra-modi-rss-pracharak-indira-gandhi-p-v-narashima-rao-atal-bihari-vajpayee-188994-2014-04-14|title=The outliers who won the PMs post|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112204756/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/outliers-prime-minister-narendra-modi-rss-pracharak-indira-gandhi-p-v-narashima-rao-atal-bihari-vajpayee/1/355731.html|archive-date=12 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Jaffrelot|1996|pp=131–132}}

Although the RSS had chosen not to participate in the [[Quit India Movement]], in August 1942, Vajpayee, along with elder brother Prem. was arrested for 24 days during the Quit India Movement. He was released after giving a written statement that while he was a part of the crowd, he did not participate in the militant events in Bateshwar on 27 August 1942. Throughout his life, including after he became prime minister, Vajpayee has labelled the allegation of participation in the Quit India Movement to be a false rumour and that he never visited Bateshwar during Quit India Movement.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Chatterjee|first1=Manini|first2=V. K.|last2=Ramachandran|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1503/15031150.htm|title=Vajpayee and the Quit India movement|journal=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|date=7 February 1998|access-date=11 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928060424/http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1503/15031150.htm|archive-date=28 September 2013|url-status=live|quote=a role he explicitly denied then and has denied again, in his January 1998 interview to Frontline.}}</ref>

== Early political career (1947–1975) ==

In 1951, Vajpayee was seconded by the RSS, along with [[Deendayal Upadhyaya]], to work for the newly formed [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]], a Hindu right-wing political party associated with the RSS. He was appointed as a national secretary of the party in charge of the Northern region, based in Delhi. He soon became a follower and aide of party leader [[Syama Prasad Mukherjee]]. In the [[1957 Indian general election]], Vajpayee contested elections to the [[Lok Sabha]], the lower house of the [[Indian Parliament]]. He lost to [[Mahendra Pratap|Raja Mahendra Pratap]] in [[Mathura]], but was elected from [[Balrampur]].

He was influenced by [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] to the extent that he mirrored his style, diction, and tone of his speeches.<ref name="S 2005">{{cite book |last=S |first=R.B. |title=Quintessence - Perspectives On Contemporary Issues |publisher=ICFAI University Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-81-7881-514-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NCkc3240R_cC&pg=PA277 |page=277 |access-date=24 December 2023 |archive-date=24 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224200829/https://books.google.com/books?id=NCkc3240R_cC&pg=PA277 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Varshney 1973">{{cite book |last=Varshney |first=M.R. |title=Jana Sangh--R.S.S. and Balraj Madhok |publisher=Aligarh |year=1973 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yu2KAAAAMAAJ |quote=Vajpayee had never been known for his attachment to RSS ideals and ideology . With his Communist background and emotional temperament, he had always looked upon Pt. Nehru as his model and adored him from the bottom of his heart. |page=47 |access-date=24 December 2023 |archive-date=24 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224200829/https://books.google.com/books?id=yu2KAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> Nehru's influence was also evident in Vajpayee's leadership.<ref name="Rediff.com">{{cite web |title=Rediff On The NeT: The Rediff Interview/Bharat Karnad |url=https://rediff.com/news/1998/sep/25ctbt.htm?zcc=rl |work=Rediff.com |date=25 September 1998 |access-date=24 December 2023 |archive-date=26 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226194352/https://www.rediff.com/news/1998/sep/25ctbt.htm?zcc=rl |url-status=live }}</ref> In the Lok Sabha his oratorial skills so impressed Prime Minister Nehru that he predicted that Vajpayee would someday become the prime minister of India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_I_57_LS.pdf|title=Election Commission of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008104728/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1957/Vol_I_57_LS.pdf|archive-date=8 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/explained-battleground-amu-a-raja-and-his-legacy/|title=Explained: Battleground AMU; A Raja and his Legacy|date=29 November 2014|work=The Indian Express|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603074728/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/explained-battleground-amu-a-raja-and-his-legacy/|archive-date=3 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/goodgov/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=113866|title=Print Release|website=pib.nic.in|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130183530/http://www.pib.nic.in/goodgov/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=113866|archive-date=30 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> On the occasion of [[Death and state funeral of Jawaharlal Nehru|Nehru's death]] on 27 May 1964, Vajpayee termed him as "the orchestrator of the impossible and inconceivable" and likened him to Hindu god [[Rama]].<ref name="Mukhopadhyay 2015">{{cite news |last=Mukhopadhyay |first=Nilanjan |date=15 November 2015 |title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee insisted on continuing Nehru's legacy; PM Narendra Modi just tweets about it |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/atal-bihari-vajpayee-insisted-on-continuing-nehrus-legacy-pm-narendra-modi-just-tweets-about-it/articleshow/49783809.cms |work=The Economic Times |access-date=25 December 2023 |archive-date=24 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224202520/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/atal-bihari-vajpayee-insisted-on-continuing-nehrus-legacy-pm-narendra-modi-just-tweets-about-it/articleshow/49783809.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="C. Chari for Perspective Publications 2004 p. ">{{cite book |title=The Book Review |publisher=C. Chari for Perspective Publications |issue=v. 28 |year=2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WHksAAAAYAAJ |page=7}}</ref>

Vajpayee's oratorial skills won him the reputation of being the most eloquent defender of the Jana Sangh's policies.<ref name="Guha_Scroll">{{Cite news |url=https://scroll.in/article/890693/atal-bihari-vajpayee-1924-2018-a-poet-among-bigots |title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924–2018): A poet among bigots |last=Guha |first=Ramachandra |date=16 August 2018 |work=Scroll.in |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817023120/https://scroll.in/article/890693/atal-bihari-vajpayee-1924-2018-a-poet-among-bigots |url-status=live }}</ref> After the death of Upadhyaya, the leadership of the Jana Sangh passed to Vajpayee.<ref name="Scroll_14-06-29">{{Cite news |url=https://scroll.in/article/668126/how-the-leadership-of-the-jana-sangh-passed-to-vajpayee |title=How the leadership of the Jana Sangh passed to Vajpayee |last=Nag |first=Kingshuk |date=29 June 2014 |work=Scroll.in |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025205523/http://scroll.in/article/668126/how-the-leadership-of-the-jana-sangh-passed-to-vajpayee |archive-date=25 October 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> He became the national president of the Jana Sangh in 1968,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/key-milestones-in-atal-bihari-vajpayees-political-journey/articleshow/65425998.cms |title=Key milestones in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's political journey |date=16 August 2018 |work=The Times of India |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817095854/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/key-milestones-in-atal-bihari-vajpayees-political-journey/articleshow/65425998.cms |archive-date=17 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> running the party along with [[Nanaji Deshmukh]], [[Balraj Madhok]] and [[L. K. Advani]].<ref name="Scroll_14-06-29" />

== Political philosophy ==
Analysts describe Vajpayee's political outlook as a synthesis of cultural nationalism, democratic pluralism, and pragmatic statecraft. His speeches frequently invoked India's long civilisational history, presenting national development as a moral and cultural project as much as a political one. Several scholars identify his approach as a conciliatory variant of Indian conservatism that sought to bring traditional cultural values into engagement with modern democratic governance.<ref>Brass, Paul R. (2013). _The Politics of India Since Independence_. Cambridge University Press. (See section on Vajpayee's leadership.)</ref> Civilisational nation-building narrative started by Vajpayee paved the roots of upcoming BJP Modi government's policies of India First, etc.<ref>Debroy, Bibek; Desai, Kishore (eds) (200x). _Speeding Ahead: Golden Quadrilateral_. [Government/Published report]. pp. 54.</ref>

== Janata Party and the BJP (1975–1995) ==
[[File:Atlaji addressing political rally with kaushal ji .jpg|thumb|Vajpayee addressing a political rally in 1977.]]

Vajpayee was arrested along with several other opposition leaders during the [[The Emergency (India)|Internal Emergency]] imposed by Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] in 1975.<ref name="nytobit" />{{sfn|Coomi Kapoor|2016|p=46}} Initially interned in [[Bangalore]], Vajpayee appealed his imprisonment on the grounds of bad health, and was moved to a hospital in Delhi.<ref name="Nag">{{cite news |last1=Nag |first1=Kingshuk |title=Atal Behari Vajpayee: A mercurial moderate |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-45205033 |access-date=18 August 2018 |publisher=BBC |date=16 August 2018 |archive-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818234610/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-45205033 |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 1976, Vajpayee ordered the student activists of the [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad|ABVP]] to tender an unconditional apology to Indira Gandhi for perpetrating violence and disorder.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|date=6 January 2017|title=Did Vajpayee ask ABVP to apologise for arson attacks during Emergency in return for democracy?|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/did-vajpayee-ask-abvp-apologise-arson-attacks-during-emergency-return-democracy-55345|access-date=29 December 2021|website=The News Minute|language=en|archive-date=29 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229115221/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/did-vajpayee-ask-abvp-apologise-arson-attacks-during-emergency-return-democracy-55345|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=25 June 2020|title=The story of how RSS leaders deserted Jayaprakash and the resistance during Indira's Emergency|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/rss-leaders-deserted-jayaprakash-resistance-during-indira-emergency/448294/|access-date=29 December 2021|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|archive-date=23 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223054233/https://theprint.in/opinion/rss-leaders-deserted-jayaprakash-resistance-during-indira-emergency/448294/|url-status=live}}</ref> The ABVP student leaders refused to obey his order.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=22 March 2021|title=How Morarji Desai outwitted Jagjivan Ram and Charan Singh|url=https://openthemagazine.com/columns/morarji-desai-outwitted-jagjivan-ram-charan-singh/|access-date=29 December 2021|website=Open The Magazine|language=en-GB|archive-date=25 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225074826/https://openthemagazine.com/columns/morarji-desai-outwitted-jagjivan-ram-charan-singh/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Gandhi ended the state of emergency in 1977.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Steinberg |first1=Blema S. |title=Women in Power: The Personalities and Leadership Styles of Indira Gandhi, Golda Meir, and Margaret Thatcher |date=20 March 2008 |publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press |isbn=978-0-7735-7502-8 |page=76 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n2R0OAYkcgMC&pg=PA76 |language=en}}</ref> A coalition of parties, including the BJS, came together to form the [[Janata Party]], which won the [[1977 Indian general election|1977 general elections]].<ref name="BBC1">{{cite news |title=AB Vajpayee: The PM who consolidated India as a nuclear power |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-25123943 |access-date=18 August 2018 |publisher=BBC |date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817141325/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-25123943 |archive-date=17 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> [[Morarji Desai]], the chosen leader of the alliance, became the prime minister. Vajpayee served as the [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|minister of external affairs]], or foreign minister, in Desai's cabinet.<ref name="IE_18-08-16">{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/10-defining-moments-of-atal-bihari-vajpayees-political-career-5310378/ |title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee passes away: 10 defining moments of his political career |last=De |first=Abhishek |date=16 August 2018 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-date=19 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819001743/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/10-defining-moments-of-atal-bihari-vajpayees-political-career-5310378/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As foreign minister, Vajpayee became the first person in 1977 to deliver a speech to the [[United Nations General Assembly]] in Hindi.<ref name="IE_18-08-16" /><ref>Perkovich, George (2001). _India's Nuclear Bomb_. University of California Press. pp. 374-389.</ref>

[[File:Officials of India welcome Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter during an arrival ceremony in New Delhi, India - NARA - 177371.jpg|thumb|Foreign Minister Vajpayee (far right), President [[Neelam Sanjiva Reddy]] (far left) and Prime Minister [[Morarji Desai]] (third from right, front row) with US President [[Jimmy Carter]] during his 1978 visit to India.]]
In 1979, Desai and Vajpayee resigned, triggering the collapse of the Janata Party.<ref name="Nag" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-morarji-desai-1615165.html|title=Obituary: Morarji Desai|work=The Independent|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103104550/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-morarji-desai-1615165.html|archive-date=3 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The erstwhile members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh came together to form the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) in 1980, with Vajpayee as its first President.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lahiry |first=Sutapa |year=2005 |title=Jana Sangh and Bharatiya Janata Party : A comparative assessment of their philosophy and strategy and their proximity with the other members of the Sangh Parivar |journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science |volume=66 |issue=4 |pages=831–850  |jstor=41856171 }}</ref>

Leading up to [[Operation Blue Star|Operation Bluestar]], there were several protests by [[Sangh Parivar]], including a march led by [[L. K. Advani|LK Advani]] and Vajpayee of the Bhartiya Janta Party to protest against the lack of government action and to demand that the [[Indian Army]] be sent into the [[Golden Temple]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 April 2008 |title=Advani's Blue Star remark makes Akali Dal see red |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/advani-s-blue-star-remark-makes-akali-dal-see-red/story-aUDzmM9npzrIu9eyXMPlQN_amp.html |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=8 May 2023 |archive-date=19 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019143445/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/advani-s-blue-star-remark-makes-akali-dal-see-red/story-aUDzmM9npzrIu9eyXMPlQN_amp.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Advani |first=LK |title=My Country My Life |publisher=Rupa |year=2008 |isbn=978-8129113634 |pages=430}}</ref>

The 1984 general elections were held in the wake of Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi's assassination]] by her Sikh bodyguards. While he had won the 1977 and the 1980 elections from New Delhi, Vajpayee shifted to his home town Gwalior for the election.<ref name="Mint_Elections">{{Cite news |url=https://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/wKUMcJsFf7lXQN8UCdzGrL/How-Vajpayee-fared-in-the-14-Lok-Sabha-elections-he-conteste.html |title=How Vajpayee fared in the 14 Lok Sabha elections he contested between 1957 and 2004 |date=17 August 2018 |work=Mint |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817193335/https://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/wKUMcJsFf7lXQN8UCdzGrL/How-Vajpayee-fared-in-the-14-Lok-Sabha-elections-he-conteste.html |archive-date=17 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

Vidya Razdan was initially tipped to be the Congress candidate. Instead, [[Madhavrao Scindia]], scion of the [[Scindia|Gwalior royal family]], was brought in on the last day of filing nominations.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/19841231-gwalior-to-see-epic-election-battle-between-madhavrao-scindia-and-atal-behari-vajpayee-803530-1984-12-31 |title=Gwalior to see epic election battle between Madhavrao Scindia and Atal Behari Vajpayee |last=Gupta |first=Shekhar |date=31 December 1984 |work=India Today |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817193504/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/19841231-gwalior-to-see-epic-election-battle-between-madhavrao-scindia-and-atal-behari-vajpayee-803530-1984-12-31 |archive-date=17 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Vajpayee lost to Scindia, managing to secure only 29% of the votes.<ref name="Mint_Elections" />

Under Vajpayee, the BJP moderated the Hindu-nationalist position of the Jana Sangh, emphasising its connection to the Janata Party and expressing support for [[Gandhian Socialism]].<ref name="Malik and Singh">{{cite journal|last1=Malik|first1=Yogendra K.|last2=Singh|first2=V.B.|title=Bharatiya Janata Party: An Alternative to the Congress (I)?|journal=Asian Survey|date=April 1992|volume=32|issue=4|pages=318–336|jstor=2645149|doi=10.2307/2645149}}</ref> The ideological shift did not bring it success and Indira Gandhi's assassination generated sympathy for the Congress, leading to a massive victory at the polls. The BJP won only two seats in parliament.<ref name="Malik and Singh" /> Vajpayee offered to quit as party president following BJP's dismal performance in the election,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/bjp-members-statement-senior-leader-recalls-1984-loss-says-vajpayee-offered-to-quit/ |title=BJP members' statement: Senior leader recalls 1984 loss, says Vajpayee offered to quit |last=Ghosh |first=Abantika |date=11 November 2015 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818002534/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/bjp-members-statement-senior-leader-recalls-1984-loss-says-vajpayee-offered-to-quit/ |archive-date=18 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> but stayed in the post until 1986.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chatterjee |first=Manini |date=1 May 1994 |title=The BJP: Political Mobilization for Hindutva |journal=Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East  |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=14–23 |doi=10.1215/07323867-14-1-14 |issn=1089-201X }}</ref> He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1986 from Madhya Pradesh,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://164.100.47.5/Newmembers/alphabeticallist_all_terms.aspx |title=Alphabetical List Of Former Members Of Rajya Sabha Since 1952 |website=Rajya Sabha |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109030114/http://164.100.47.5/Newmembers/alphabeticallist_all_terms.aspx |archive-date=9 January 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> and was briefly the leader of the BJP in Parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bjp.org/en/leadership/shri-atal-bihari-vajpayee/atal-word-portrait/shri-atal-bihari-vajpayee-4|title=SHRI ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE|website=bjp.org|access-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710232910/http://www.bjp.org/en/leadership/shri-atal-bihari-vajpayee/atal-word-portrait/shri-atal-bihari-vajpayee-4|archive-date=10 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1986, [[L. K. Advani]] took office as president of the BJP.<ref name="IndiaToday_Elections">{{Cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/fyi/story/bjp-foundation-day-modi-vajpayee-1984-congress-969890-2017-04-06 |title=BJP Foundation Day: Party's rise to power from 2 MPs in 1984 to 282 in 2014 |last=Gupta |first=Mohak |date=6 April 2017 |work=India Today |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817193440/https://www.indiatoday.in/fyi/story/bjp-foundation-day-modi-vajpayee-1984-congress-969890-2017-04-06 |archive-date=17 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Under him, the BJP returned to a policy of hardline Hindu nationalism.<ref name="Malik and Singh" /> It became the political voice of the [[Ram Janmabhoomi]] Mandir Movement, which sought to build a temple dedicated to the Hindu deity [[Rama]] in [[Ayodhya]]. The temple would be built at a site believed to be the birthplace of Rama after demolishing a 16th-century mosque, called the [[Babri Masjid]], which then stood there.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/15/opinion/15guha.html |title=India's Internal Partition |last=Guha |first=Ramachandra |date=15 August 2007 |work=The New York Times |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817193430/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/15/opinion/15guha.html |archive-date=17 August 2018 |url-status=live |ref=none }}</ref> The strategy paid off for the BJP; it won 86 seats in the Lok Sabha in the [[1989 Indian general election|1989 general election]], making its support crucial to the government of [[V. P. Singh]].<ref name="Malik and Singh" /> In December 1992, a group of religious volunteers led by members of the BJP, the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) and the [[Vishva Hindu Parishad|Vishwa Hindu Parishad]] (VHP), [[Babri Masjid demolition|tore down the mosque]].<ref name="Caravan_Babri">{{Cite news |url=http://www.caravanmagazine.in/vantage/maybe-will-temple-congress-power-twenty-four-years-babri-masjid-demolition |title="Maybe We Will Have The Temple When The Congress Is in Power": Twenty-Four Years After The Babri Masjid Demolition |last=Peer |first=Basharat |date=6 December 2016 |work=The Caravan |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817225426/http://www.caravanmagazine.in/vantage/maybe-will-temple-congress-power-twenty-four-years-babri-masjid-demolition |archive-date=17 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref name="Guha_Scroll" />

He served as Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, for various terms starting at Balrampur from 1957{{En dash}}1962. He served again from Balrampur from 1967{{En dash}}1971, then from Gwalior from 1971{{En dash}}1977, and then from New Delhi from 1977{{En dash}}1984. Finally, he served from Lucknow from 1991{{En dash}}2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/atal-bihari-vajpayee-had-his-website-as-early-as-1999-polls/articleshow/65446972.cms|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee had his website as early as 1999 polls|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=18 August 2018 |access-date=5 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819122744/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/atal-bihari-vajpayee-had-his-website-as-early-as-1999-polls/articleshow/65446972.cms|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Prime minister (1996,1998–99 & 1999–2004) ==
{{See also|Premiership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee}}

=== First term: May 1996 ===
{{See also|First Vajpayee ministry}}
During a BJP conference in Mumbai in November 1995, BJP President Advani declared that Vajpayee would be the party's prime ministerial candidate in the forthcoming elections. Vajpayee himself was reported to be unhappy with the announcement, responding by saying that the party needed to win the election first.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-will-the-rath-yatra-bring-lk-advani-back-in-rss-good-books-1597360|title=Will the 'rath yatra' bring LK Advani back in RSS good books?|date=11 October 2011|work=dna|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921001841/http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-will-the-rath-yatra-bring-lk-advani-back-in-rss-good-books-1597360|archive-date=21 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The BJP became the single largest party in Parliament in the [[1996 Indian general election|1996 general election]], helped by religious polarisation across the country as a result of the demolition of the Babri Masjid.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=633}}{{sfn|M. L. Ahuja|1998|p=208}} Indian president [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]] invited Vajpayee to form the government.{{sfn|Muller|2012|p=628}} Vajpayee was sworn in as the 10th prime minister of India,{{sfn|Chitkara|Śarmā|1997|p=268}} but the BJP failed to muster a majority among members of the Lok Sabha. Vajpayee resigned after 16 days, when it became clear that he did not have enough support to form a government.{{sfn|Chitkara|Śarmā|1997|p=268}}{{sfn|Sumantra Bose|2013|p=79}} 

=== Second term: 1998–1999 ===
{{See also|Second Vajpayee ministry}}
After the fall of the two [[Third Front (India)|United Front]] governments between 1996 and 1998, the Lok Sabha was dissolved and fresh elections were held. The [[1998 Indian general election|1998 general elections]] again put the BJP ahead of others. A number of political parties joined the BJP to form the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA), and Vajpayee was sworn in as the prime minister.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/india_elections/61761.stm|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee: India's new prime minister|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205150717/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/india_elections/61761.stm|archive-date=5 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The coalition was an uneasy one,<ref name="BBC1" /> as apart from the [[Shiv Sena (1966–2022)|Shiv Sena]], none of the other parties espoused the BJP's Hindu-nationalist ideology.{{sfn|Guha|2007|p=662}} Vajpayee has been credited for managing this coalition successfully, while facing ideological pressure from the hardline wing of the party and from the RSS.<ref name="Nag" /> Vajpayee's government lasted 13 months until mid-1999 when the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) under [[J. Jayalalithaa]] withdrew its support after a tea with [[Sonia Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/322065.stm|title=Vajpayee's thirteen months|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225003130/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/322065.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dasgupta |first=Amarnath K. MenonShougat |date=24 February 2026 |title=From the India Today archives (2016) {{!}} Jayalalithaa: The Amma of millions |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/from-the-india-today-archives-2016-jayalalithaa-the-amma-of-millions-2873636-2026-02-24 |magazine=India Today |access-date=3 March 2026}}</ref> The government lost the ensuing vote of confidence motion in the Lok Sabha by a single vote on 17 April 1999.{{sfn|Turner|2016|p=818}} As the opposition was unable to come up with the numbers to form the new government, the Lok Sabha was again dissolved and fresh elections were held.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/current/cp19990428.pdf |title=Election Commission of India - Press Note |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010212856/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/current/cp19990428.pdf |archive-date=10 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Nuclear tests ====
{{See also|Pokhran-II}}
In May 1998, India conducted [[Pokhran-II|five underground nuclear tests]] in the [[Pokhran]] desert in [[Rajasthan]], 24 years after its first nuclear test, operation [[Smiling Buddha]] in 1974. Two weeks later, Pakistan responded with its own nuclear tests making it the newest nation with declared nuclear capability.{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=673–675}} While some nations, such as France, endorsed India's right to defensive nuclear power,{{sfn|Ajai K. Rai|2009|p=162}} others including the United States, Canada, Japan, Britain and the [[European Union]] imposed sanctions on information, resources and technology to India. In spite of intense international criticism and steady decline in foreign investment and trade, the nuclear tests were popular domestically. In effect, the international sanctions imposed failed to sway India from weaponising its nuclear capability. US sanctions against India and Pakistan were eventually lifted after just six months.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Morrow|first1=Daniel|last2=Carriere|first2=Michael|date=Fall 1999|title=The economic impacts of the 1998 sanctions on India and Pakistan|url=https://www.nonproliferation.org/wp-content/uploads/npr/morrow64.pdf|page=10|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808155139/http://www.nonproliferation.org/wp-content/uploads/npr/morrow64.pdf|archive-date=8 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Several commentators interpreted the tests as an assertion of strategic autonomy and national self-confidence, consistent with Vajpayee's view of India as a civilisational state entitled to a secure and independent global role. Srinath Raghavan notes international support India gained during and after the Kargil War.<ref>Raghavan, Srinath (2010). _War and Peace in Modern India_. Permanent Black. pp. 409-450.</ref>

==== Lahore summit ====
In late 1998 and early 1999, Vajpayee began a push for a full-scale diplomatic peace process with Pakistan. With the historic inauguration of the Delhi-Lahore bus service in February 1999, Vajpayee initiated a new peace process aimed towards permanently resolving the Kashmir dispute and other conflicts with Pakistan. The resultant [[Lahore Declaration]] espoused a commitment to dialogue, expanded trade relations and mutual friendship and envisaged a goal of denuclearised South Asia. This eased the tension created by the 1998 nuclear tests, not only within the two nations but also in South Asia and the rest of the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9902/21/india.pakistan/index.html|title=CNN – Leaders of Pakistan, India pledge to work toward peace – February 21, 1999|publisher=CNN|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131041558/http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9902/21/india.pakistan/index.html|archive-date=31 January 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Maggsi, Amjad Abbas. "Lahore Declaration February, 1999 A Major Initiative for Peace in South Asia." ''Pakistan Vision'' 14, no. 1 (2013): 183.</ref>

==== AIADMK's withdrawal from the NDA ====
The AIADMK had continually threatened to withdraw from the coalition and national leaders repeatedly flew down from Delhi to Chennai to pacify the AIADMK general secretary [[J. Jayalalithaa]]. However, in May 1999, the AIADMK withdrew from NDA, and the Vajpayee administration was reduced to a caretaker status pending [[1999 Indian general election|fresh elections scheduled for October 1999]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiasociety.org/publications/indian_elections.13.a.html |title=The Thirteenth Election of India's Lok Sabha |last=Oldenburg |first=Philip |date=September 1999 |publisher=The Asia Society |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604152951/http://www.asiasociety.org/publications/indian_elections.13.a.html |archive-date=4 June 2008 }}</ref>

==== Kargil War ====
[[File:Indian Border Security Force with Prime Minister Vajpayee and Defence Minister, George Fernandes.png|thumb|Prime Minister Vajpayee with Indian troops and other dignitaries at Kargil after the war in 1999]]
{{Further|Kargil War}}

In May 1999 some Kashmiri shepherds discovered the presence of militants and non-uniformed Pakistani soldiers (many with official identifications and [[Pakistan Army]]'s custom weaponry) in the Kashmir Valley, where they had taken control of border hilltops and unmanned border posts. The incursion was centred around the town of [[Kargil]], but also included the [[Batalik]] and [[Akhnoor]] sectors and artillery exchanges at the [[Siachen Glacier]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/sjir/3.1.06_kapur-narang.html|title=SJIR: The Fate of Kashmir : International Law or Lawlessness?|website=web.stanford.edu|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012061736/https://web.stanford.edu/group/sjir/3.1.06_kapur-narang.html|archive-date=12 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Guha|2007|pp=675–678}}

The Indian army responded with Operation Vijay, which launched on 26 May 1999. This saw the Indian military fighting thousands of militants and soldiers in the midst of heavy artillery shelling and while facing extremely cold weather, snow and treacherous terrain at the high altitude.{{sfn|Myra|2017|pp=27–66}} Over 500 Indian soldiers were killed in the three-month-long Kargil War, and it is estimated around 600–4,000 Pakistani militants and soldiers died as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://164.100.24.208/lsq/quest.asp?qref=51302|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202045832/http://164.100.24.208/lsq/quest.asp?qref=51302|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 December 2008|title=PARLIAMENT QUESTIONS, LOK SABHA|date=2 December 2008|access-date=17 August 2018}}</ref>{{sfn|Rodrigo|2006|p=}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2003/08/17/stories/2003081702900800.htm|title=Over 4,000 soldiers killed in Kargil: Sharif|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040531145342/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2003/08/17/stories/2003081702900800.htm|archive-date=31 May 2004|url-status=dead|date=17 August 2003|last1=Reddy|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|first1=B. Muralidhar}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-pak-quietly-names-453-men-killed-in-kargil-war/20101118.htm|title=Pak quietly names 453 men killed in Kargil war|work=Rediff.com|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627173200/http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-pak-quietly-names-453-men-killed-in-kargil-war/20101118.htm|archive-date=27 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> India pushed back the Pakistani militants and [[Northern Light Infantry]] soldiers. Almost 70% of the territory was recaptured by India.{{sfn|Myra|2017|pp=27–66}} Vajpayee sent a "secret letter" to US President [[Bill Clinton]] that if Pakistani infiltrators did not withdraw from the Indian territory, "we will get them out, one way or the other".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-was-ready-to-cross-loc-use-nuclear-weapons-in-kargil-war-115120300518_1.html|title=India was ready to cross LoC, use nuclear weapons in Kargil war|last=Team|first=BS Web|date=3 December 2015|work=Business Standard India|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609100347/http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-was-ready-to-cross-loc-use-nuclear-weapons-in-kargil-war-115120300518_1.html|archive-date=9 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

After Pakistan suffered heavy losses, and with both the United States and China refusing to condone the incursion or threaten India to stop its military operations, General [[Pervez Musharraf]] was [[recalcitrant]] and [[Nawaz Sharif]] asked the remaining militants to stop and withdraw to positions along the LoC.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/05/14/the-story-of-how-nawaz-sharif-pulled-back-from-nuclear-war/|title=The story of how Nawaz Sharif pulled back from nuclear war|website=Foreign Policy|date=14 May 2013 |access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817193426/https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/05/14/the-story-of-how-nawaz-sharif-pulled-back-from-nuclear-war/|archive-date=17 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The militants were not willing to accept orders from Sharif but the [[Northern Light Infantry|NLI]] soldiers withdrew.<ref name="auto" /> The militants were killed by the Indian army or forced to withdraw in skirmishes which continued even after the announcement of withdrawal by Pakistan.<ref name="auto" />

Analysts highlighted Vajpayee's leadership during the conflict as balancing military firmness with diplomatic restraint, contributing to India's ability to maintain international support while defending its territorial integrity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/atal-bihari-vajpayee-epitome-leadership-resilience-vijay-singh/ |title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Epitome of Leadership and Resilience |last=Singh |first=Vijay |year=2023 |access-date=18 November 2025 |archive-date=29 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251129112206/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/atal-bihari-vajpayee-epitome-leadership-resilience-vijay-singh/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/india-s-kargil-diplomacy-the-strength-and-limits-of-diplomacy-matters-in-war |title=India’s Kargil diplomacy: Strengths and limits of diplomacy in war |last= Bommakanti |first=Kartik |year=2024}}</ref>

=== Third term: 1999–2004===
{{See also|Third Vajpayee ministry}}

The [[1999 Indian general election|1999 general elections]] were held in the aftermath of the Kargil operations. The BJP-led NDA won 303 seats out of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, securing a comfortable and stable majority.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianembassy.org/inews/Nov_99/inews_11_99.pdf|title=Address to the Nation by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee|publisher=Indianembassy.org|access-date=24 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402173754/http://www.indianembassy.org/inews/Nov_99/inews_11_99.pdf|archive-date=2 April 2012}}</ref> On 13 October 1999, Vajpayee took oath as the prime minister of India for the third time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/election/1999/oct/13vaj.htm|title=Rediff on the NeT: 70-member Vajpayee ministry sworn in|work=Rediff.com|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191710/http://www.rediff.com/election/1999/oct/13vaj.htm|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

A national crisis emerged in December 1999, when [[Indian Airlines flight 814 hijacking|Indian Airlines flight IC 814]] from [[Kathmandu]] to New Delhi was hijacked by five terrorists and flown to [[Taliban]]-ruled Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianembassy.org/archive/IC_814.htm#Identity%20of%20hijackers|title=Information on hijacked Indian Airlines aircraft, IC-814|access-date=6 February 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618043501/http://www.indianembassy.org/archive/IC_814.htm|archive-date=18 June 2010}}</ref> The hijackers made several demands including the release of certain terrorists like [[Masood Azhar]] from prison. Under pressure, the government ultimately caved in. [[Jaswant Singh]], the then minister of external affairs, flew with the terrorists to Afghanistan and exchanged them for the passengers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/how-the-world-paid-for-the-ic-814-hijacking-16-years-hence|title=How the World Paid for the IC-814 Hijacking, 18 Years Ago|work=The Quint|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817125013/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/how-the-world-paid-for-the-ic-814-hijacking-16-years-hence|url-status=live}}</ref> This time, he created [[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation]].

[[File:Vladimir Putin 6 November 2001-5.jpg|thumb|Vajpayee with Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] on 6 November 2001]]
[[File:President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee shake hands after signing a vision statement, Hyderabad House, New Delhi.jpg|thumb|Vajpayee meeting US president [[Bill Clinton]] at the [[Hyderabad House]]<br />on 21 March 2000]]

In March 2000, [[Bill Clinton]], the President of the United States, paid a state visit to India.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/03/ind-m23.html|title=Clinton visit to the Indian subcontinent sets a new strategic orientation|last=Symonds|first=Peter|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817225500/https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/03/ind-m23.html|archive-date=17 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> This was the first state visit to India by a US president in 22 years, since President Jimmy Carter's visit in 1978.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/atal-bihari-vajpayee-went-the-extra-mile-shaped-indias-foreign-policy/articleshow/65433428.cms |title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee went the extra mile, shaped India's foreign policy |last=Chaudhury |first=Dipanjan Roy |date=17 August 2018 |work=The Economic Times |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817225904/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/atal-bihari-vajpayee-went-the-extra-mile-shaped-indias-foreign-policy/articleshow/65433428.cms |archive-date=17 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> President Clinton's visit was hailed as a significant milestone in relations between the two nations.<ref name=":6" /> Vajpayee and Clinton had wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional and international developments.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2000/sep/16pmus2.htm |title=The text of the Clinton-Vajpayee joint statement |date=16 September 2000 |work=Rediff |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429195312/http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/sep/16pmus2.htm |archive-date=29 April 2011 |url-status=live  }}</ref> The visit led to expansion in trade and economic ties between India and the United States.<ref name="LATimes_Obit">{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-atal-bihari-vajpayee-20180816-story.html |title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Indian prime minister who pursued peace with Pakistan, dies at 93 |last1=Bengali |first1=Shashank |date=16 August 2018 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=17 August 2018 |last2=M. N. |first2=Parth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817015457/http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-atal-bihari-vajpayee-20180816-story.html |archive-date=17 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> A vision document on the future course of Indo-US relations was signed during the visit.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tandon |first=Ashok |date=17 August 2018 |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/atal-bihari-vajpayee-passes-away-at-93-bhishma-pitamaha-of-indian-politics-former-prime-minister-was-humanity-personified-4983621.html |title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee passes away at 93: Bhishma Pitamaha of Indian politics, former prime minister was humanity personified |work=Firstpost |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817172920/https://www.firstpost.com/india/atal-bihari-vajpayee-passes-away-at-93-bhishma-pitamaha-of-indian-politics-former-prime-minister-was-humanity-personified-4983621.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Domestically, the BJP-led government was influenced by the RSS, but owing to its dependence on coalition support, it was impossible for the BJP to push items like building the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, repealing [[Article 370 of the Constitution of India|Article 370]] which gave a special status to the state of Kashmir, or enacting a [[uniform civil code]] applicable to adherents of all religions. On 17 January 2000, there were reports of the RSS and some BJP hard-liners threatening to restart the Jan Sangh, the precursor to the BJP, because of their discontent over Vajpayee's rule. Former president of the Jan Sangh Balraj Madhok had written a letter to the then-RSS chief [[Rajendra Singh (RSS)|Rajendra Singh]] for support.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Sharad |last2=Sinha |first2=Sanjiv |title=Revive Jan Sangh – BJP hardlines |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/revive-jan-sangh-bjp-hardlines/ |access-date=12 August 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=18 January 2000 |archive-date=12 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812095333/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/revive-jan-sangh-bjp-hardlines/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The BJP was, however, accused of "saffronising" the official state education curriculum and apparatus, saffron being the colour of the RSS flag of the RSS, and a symbol of the Hindu nationalism movement.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2001/09/19/stories/05192524.htm |title=The colour of education |last=Mehra |first=Ajay K. |date=19 September 2001 |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020922121220/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/2001/09/19/stories/05192524.htm |archive-date=22 September 2002 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=dead }}</ref> Home Minister L. K. Advani and the Human Resource Development Minister (now called Education Minister)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yadav |first1=Shyamlal |title=Explained: How India's Education Ministry became 'HRD Ministry', and then returned to embrace Education |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-hrd-ministry-and-ministry-of-education-6531694/ |access-date=27 February 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=1 August 2020 |language=en |archive-date=21 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121065915/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-hrd-ministry-and-ministry-of-education-6531694/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Murli Manohar Joshi]] were indicted in the 1992 [[Demolition of the Babri Masjid|Babri Mosque demolition]] case for inciting a mob of activists. Vajpayee himself came under public scrutiny owing to his controversial speech one day prior to the mosque demolition.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/04/25/stories/2004042501941200.htm|title=National / Elections 2004 : This Vajpayee speech campaigns against the NDA|last=Ramakrishnan|first=Venkitesh|date=25 April 2004|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102184931/http://www.thehindu.com/2004/04/25/stories/2004042501941200.htm|archive-date=2 January 2016|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|url-status=dead}}</ref>

These years were accompanied by infighting in the administration and confusion regarding the direction of government.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/19991011-bitter-infighting-truant-kalyan-singh-ensure-turbulent-days-for-bjp-after-elections-824933-1999-10-11 |title=Spoiling the party |date=11 October 1999 |access-date=17 August 2018 |work=[[India Today]] |last=Mishra |first=Subhash |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817225811/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/19991011-bitter-infighting-truant-kalyan-singh-ensure-turbulent-days-for-bjp-after-elections-824933-1999-10-11 |archive-date=17 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/guest-column/story/20010108-in-2000-vajpayee-could-have-done-a-lot-more-than-mere-tinkering-776035-2001-01-08 |work=[[India Today]] |title=Year of inaction |date=8 January 2001 |last=Singh |first=Tavleen |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817225906/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/guest-column/story/20010108-in-2000-vajpayee-could-have-done-a-lot-more-than-mere-tinkering-776035-2001-01-08 |archive-date=17 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Vajpayee's weakening health was also a subject of public interest, and he underwent a major knee-replacement surgery at the [[Breach Candy Hospital]] in Mumbai to relieve intense pressure upon his legs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/vajpayee-s-knee-surgery-successful-1.418521|title=Vajpayee's knee surgery successful|last=Raghunath|first=Pamela|date=8 June 2001|work=Gulf News|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529065152/http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/vajpayee-s-knee-surgery-successful-1.418521|archive-date=29 May 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2001, the [[Tehelka]] group released a sting operation video named [[Operation West End]] which showed BJP president [[Bangaru Laxman]], senior army officers and NDA members accepting bribes from journalists posing as agents and businessmen.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/2001/03/20/stories/13200341.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150309145729/http://www.thehindu.com/2001/03/20/stories/13200341.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 March 2015|title=Operation West End|access-date=17 August 2018|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=20 March 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tehelka.com/channels/Investigation/page.asp |title=Investigations |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105204324/http://www.tehelka.com/channels/Investigation/page.asp |archive-date=5 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Defence Minister [[George Fernandes]] was forced to resign following the [[Barak Missile scandal]] involving the botched supplies of coffins for the soldiers killed in Kargil, and the findings of an inquiry commission that the government could have prevented the Kargil invasion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Fernandes-offers-to-quit/articleshow/33942023.cms|title=Fernandes offers to quit |work=The Times of India|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421235534/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Fernandes-offers-to-quit/articleshow/33942023.cms|archive-date=21 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Vajpayee initiated talks with Pakistan and invited Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf to [[Agra]] for a [[Agra summit|joint summit]]. President Musharraf was believed to be the principal architect of the Kargil War in India.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/14/world/a-summit-meeting-of-old-foes-india-and-pakistan.html |title=A Summit Meeting of Old Foes: India and Pakistan |last=Dugger |first=Celia W. |date=14 July 2001 |work=The New York Times |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527161858/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/14/world/a-summit-meeting-of-old-foes-india-and-pakistan.html |archive-date=27 May 2015 |url-status=live  }}</ref> By accepting him as the [[President of Pakistan]], Vajpayee chose to move forward leaving behind the Kargil War. But after three days of much fanfare, which included Musharraf visiting his birthplace in Delhi, the summit failed to achieve a breakthrough as President Musharraf declined to leave aside the issue of Kashmir.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Baral|first=J.K.|s2cid=154231247|date=1 August 2002|title=The Agra Summit|journal=International Studies|volume=39|issue=3|pages=289–302|doi=10.1177/002088170203900305|issn=0020-8817}}</ref>

==== 2001 attack on Parliament ====
{{Main|2001 Indian Parliament attack}}
On 13 December 2001, a group of masked, armed men with fake IDs stormed [[Old Parliament House (India)|Parliament House]] in Delhi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/parliament-attack-afzal-guru-hanging-all-that-happened-in-16-years-1106199-2017-12-13|title=Parliament attack: From 5 terrorists storming in to Afzal Guru hanging, all that happened in 16 years|website=India Today|date=13 December 2017 |access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112023820/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/parliament-attack-afzal-guru-hanging-all-that-happened-in-16-years-1106199-2017-12-13|archive-date=12 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The terrorists managed to kill several security guards, but the building was sealed off swiftly and security forces cornered and killed the men who were later proven to be Pakistan nationals.{{sfn|J. N. Dixit|2003|p=}} Vajpayee ordered Indian troops to mobilise for war, leading to an estimated 500,000<ref name="ParliamentAttackBrinkWar">{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Parliament-attack-had-brought-India-Pak-on-brink-of-another-war/articleshow/18424134.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Parliament attack had brought India, Pak on brink of another war |access-date=17 August 2018 |date=10 February 2013 |author=Times News Network (TNN) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212085505/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Parliament-attack-had-brought-India-Pak-on-brink-of-another-war/articleshow/18424134.cms |archive-date=12 February 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref> to 750,000<ref name="BBC_2002">{{Cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2335599.stm |title=Pakistan to withdraw front-line troops |date=17 October 2002 |work=BBC News |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714093545/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/2335599.stm |archive-date=14 July 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Indian soldiers positioned along the international border between India and Pakistan under Operation Parakram. Pakistan responded by mobilising its own troops along the border leading to the [[2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff|2001-2002 military standoff]].<ref name="ParliamentAttackBrinkWar" /> A terrorist attack on an army garrison in Kashmir in May 2002 further escalated the situation. As the threat of war between two nuclear capable countries and the consequent possibility of a nuclear exchange loomed large, international diplomatic mediation focused on defusing the situation.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Coll |first=Steve |date=13 February 2006 |title=The Stand-off |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/02/13/the-stand-off |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724140934/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/02/13/the-stand-off |archive-date=24 July 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> In October 2002, both India and Pakistan announced that they would withdraw their troops from the border.<ref name="BBC_2002" />

The Vajpayee administration brought in the [[Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002|Prevention of Terrorism Act]] in 2002. The act was aimed at curbing terrorist threats by strengthening powers of government authorities to investigate and act against suspects.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Venkatesan |first=V. |title=POTA under challenge |url=https://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2003/stories/20030214004102600.htm |magazine=Frontline |volume=20 |issue=3, 1–14 February 2003 |access-date=17 August 2018 }}{{dead link|date=May 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3666716.stm |title=Analysis: The problems with Pota |last=Singh |first=Jyotsna |date=17 September 2004 |work=BBC News |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817225639/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3666716.stm |archive-date=17 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> It was passed in a joint session of the parliament, amidst concerns that the law would be misused.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Venkatesan |first=V. |title=The POTA passage |url=https://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1908/19081020.htm |magazine=Frontline |volume=19 |issue=8, 13–26 April 2002 |access-date=17 August 2018 }}{{dead link|date=May 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Another political disaster hit his government between December 2001 and March 2002 with the VHP and the Government engaging in a major standoff in [[Ayodhya]] over the [[Ram Janmabhoomi|Ram temple]]. On the 10th anniversary of the destruction of the [[Babri Masjid|Babri mosque]], the VHP wanted to perform a ''shila daan'', or a ceremony laying the foundation stone of the cherished temple at the disputed site.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2002/03/15/stories/2002031506010100.htm |last=Mody |first=Anjaly |date=14 March 2002 |access-date=17 August 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]] |title=Security blanket over Ayodhya as VHP is firm on shila daan}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Thousands of VHP activists amassed and threatened to overrun the site and forcibly perform the ceremony.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/mar/15/india.lukeharding |last=Harding |first=Luke |title=Ayodhya fear: Hindus to defy ban and pray at site of ruined mosque |date=15 March 2002 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312062400/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/mar/15/india.lukeharding |archive-date=12 March 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/02/27/ayodhya.background/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=17 August 2018 |title=Ayodhya: India's religious flashpoint |date=28 February 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124042754/http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/02/27/ayodhya.background/index.html |archive-date=24 January 2011 |url-status=live  }}</ref> A threat of communal violence and breakdown of law and order owing to the defiance of the government by a religious organisation hung over the nation. The incident, however, ended peacefully with a symbolic handover of a stone at a different location 1&nbsp;km away from the disputed site.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2002/03/16/stories/2002031606010100.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=15 March 2002 |last=Mody |first=Anjaly |title=Central emissary receives 'shila'; Ayodhya breathes easy |access-date=17 August 2018}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

=== National security and major crises (1998–2004) ===

Vajpayee's tenure was marked by several major national-security crises arising from cross-border terrorism and Pakistan's military strategy. Within weeks of his taking office, the government authorised a series of nuclear tests at Pokhran in May 1998, publicly affirming India's nuclear-weapons status and leading to a subsequent shift in regional deterrence dynamics.<ref>Perkovich 2001; Tellis 2001.</ref>
In 1999, India confronted the Kargil intrusion, in which Pakistan Army troops and Pakistan-backed militants occupied positions on the Indian side of the Line of Control. The conflict required high-altitude military operations and resulted in India restoring control over the occupied heights. Scholarly assessments describe the Kargil conflict as an attempt by Pakistan to unilaterally alter the territorial status quo under the cover of nuclear deterrence.<ref>Raghavan 2010; Jaswant Singh 2006; Andersen & Damle 2018.</ref>
Despite Vajpayee's outreach at the Lahore Summit (1999), cross-border terrorism intensified. India experienced a series of high-casualty attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, targeting civilians, pilgrims and security personnel. The most serious incident occurred on 13 December 2001, when militants belonging to Pakistan-based jihadist organisations attacked the Indian Parliament complex. The assault, aimed at the core of India's constitutional system, triggered Operation Parakram (2001–02), one of the largest military mobilisations in post-Independence history. The mobilisation brought India and Pakistan close to open war and prompted a reassessment of India's defensive and offensive doctrines.<ref>Brass 2013; Menon 1999; Palshikar 2018.</ref>
Vajpayee's later term also witnessed further terrorist strikes, including the 2002 Kaluchak massacre in Jammu and Kashmir and attacks on security installations. Analysts note that the period was defined by the dual challenge of managing nuclear-era strategic stability while confronting persistent state-sponsored terrorism.<ref>Bose 2013; Paranjape 2016.</ref>


==== 2002 Gujarat violence ====
{{Main|2002 Gujarat riots}}

In February 2002, a train filled with Hindu pilgrims returning to Gujarat from [[Ayodhya]] stopped in the town of [[Godhra]]. A scuffle broke out between Hindu activists and Muslim residents, and the train was set on fire, leading to the deaths of 59 people. The charred bodies of the victims were displayed in public in the city of [[Ahmedabad]], and the [[Vishwa Hindu Parishad]] called for a statewide strike in Gujarat. These decisions stoked anti-Muslim sentiments.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/04/06/world/asia/modi-gujarat-riots-timeline.html |title=Timeline of the Riots in Modi's Gujarat |date=19 August 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726064708/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/04/06/world/asia/modi-gujarat-riots-timeline.html |archive-date=26 July 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Blaming Muslims for the deaths, rampaging Hindu mobs killed thousands of Muslim men and women, destroying Muslim homes and places of worship. The violence raged for more than two months, and more than 1,000 people died.<ref name="NYT_Riots">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/27/world/religious-riots-loom-over-indian-politics.html |title=Religious Riots Loom Over Indian Politics |last=Dugger |first=Celia W. |date=27 July 2002 |work=The New York Times |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812073629/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/27/world/religious-riots-loom-over-indian-politics.html |archive-date=12 August 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Gujarat was being ruled by a BJP government, with [[Narendra Modi]] as the chief minister. The state government was criticised for mishandling the situation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2002/04/05/stories/2002040509161100.htm |title=Vajpayee's advice to Modi |last=Dasgupta |first=Manas |date=5 April 2002 |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106133029/http://www.thehindu.com/2002/04/05/stories/2002040509161100.htm |archive-date=6 January 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was accused of doing little to stop the violence, and even being complicit in encouraging it.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/world/asia/29india.html |title=Shadows of Violence Cling to Indian Politician |last=Sengupta |first=Somini |date=29 April 2009 |work=The New York Times |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830124248/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/world/asia/29india.html |archive-date=30 August 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref name="NYT_Riots" />

Vajpayee reportedly wanted to remove Modi but was eventually prevailed upon by party members to not act against him.<ref name="Caravan_Modi">{{Cite news |url=http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/emperor-uncrowned-narendra-modi-profile |title=1 March 2012 |last=Jose |first=Vinod K |date=1 March 2012 |work=The Caravan |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722135036/http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/emperor-uncrowned-narendra-modi-profile |archive-date=22 July 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/modi-has-to-go-post-2002-gujarat-riots-atal-bihari-vajpayee-wanted-then-cm-to-step-down-3191210.html |title='Modi has to go': Post-2002 Gujarat riots, Atal Bihari Vajpayee wanted then CM to step down |date=7 January 2017 |work=Firstpost |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208022633/http://www.firstpost.com/politics/modi-has-to-go-post-2002-gujarat-riots-atal-bihari-vajpayee-wanted-then-cm-to-step-down-3191210.html |archive-date=8 February 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> He travelled to Gujarat, visiting Godhra, and Ahmedabad, the site of the most violent riots. He announced financial aid for victims and urged an end to the violence.<ref name="NYT_2002">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/05/world/angry-and-ashamed-indian-prime-minister-tours-riot-torn-state.html |title=Angry and Ashamed, Indian Prime Minister Tours Riot-Torn State |last=Bearak |first=Barry |date=5 April 2002 |work=The New York Times |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818085337/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/05/world/angry-and-ashamed-indian-prime-minister-tours-riot-torn-state.html |archive-date=18 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> While he condemned the violence,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=8625|title=Vajpayee condemns Godhra carnage, Gujarat communal violence&nbsp;– Express India|agency=Press Trust of India|website=The Indian Express|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914172803/http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=8625|archive-date=14 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> he did not chastise Modi directly in public. When asked as to what his message to the chief minister in the event of the riots would be, Vajpayee responded that Modi must follow ''raj dharma'', Hindi for ethical governance.<ref name="NYT_2002" />

At the meeting of the BJP national executive in Goa in April 2002, Vajpayee's speech generated controversy for its contents which included him saying: "Wherever Muslims live, they don't like to live in co-existence with others."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/who-started-the-fire/215254 |title=Who Started The Fire? |date=20 April 2002 |work=Outlook |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118035839/https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/who-started-the-fire/215254 |archive-date=18 January 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/04/18/india.vajpayee/index.html|title=CNN.com&nbsp;– Vajpayee reveals his true colors&nbsp;– April 18, 2002|last=Tully|first=Mark|publisher=CNN|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231003948/http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/04/18/india.vajpayee/index.html|archive-date=31 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]] stated that these remarks had been taken out of context.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/atal-bihari-vajpayee-passes-away-bjp-loses-its-tallest-leader-india-a-statesman-politician/1282121/|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee passes away: BJP loses its tallest leader, India a statesman&nbsp;politician|date=16 August 2018|work=The Financial Express|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816145129/https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/atal-bihari-vajpayee-passes-away-bjp-loses-its-tallest-leader-india-a-statesman-politician/1282121/|archive-date=16 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Vajpayee was accused of doing nothing to stop the violence, and later admitted mistakes in handling the events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/04/30/india.censure/index.html|title=CNN.com&nbsp;– Vajpayee admits mistake over Gujarat&nbsp;– April 30, 2002|first=Kasra |last=Naji|publisher=CNN|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102005320/http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/04/30/india.censure/index.html|archive-date=2 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> [[K. R. Narayanan]], then [[president of India]], also blamed Vajpayee's government for failing to quell the violence.{{sfn|Dossani|2008|p=154}} After the BJP's defeat in the 2004 general elections, Vajpayee admitted that not removing Modi had been a mistake.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2004/06/14/stories/2004061411630100.htm |title=Not removing Modi was a mistake, says Vajpayee |last=Yogendra |first=Kanwar |date=14 June 2004 |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818123316/https://www.thehindu.com/2004/06/14/stories/2004061411630100.htm |archive-date=18 August 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Later years ====
[[File:Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee speaking at a special session to commorate 200th session of Rajya Sabha in the Centre Hall of Parliament on 11 December, 2003.jpg|thumb|Prime Minister Vajpayee speaking at a special session to commemorate the 200th session of [[Rajya Sabha]] in 2003.]]
In late 2002 and 2003 the government pushed through economic reforms.<ref name="ChinaDailyEconomy2004">{{cite news |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-06/30/content_344346.htm |date=30 June 2004 |author=Agencies |title=India's economy grows 8.2% in 2003–2004 |work=China Daily |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611095603/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-06/30/content_344346.htm |archive-date=11 June 2009 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Vajpayee's economic reforms and national renewal has been described well by Gurcharan Das.<ref>Das, Gurcharan (2002). _India Unbound_. Penguin. pp. [insert].</ref> The country's GDP growth exceeded 7% every year from 2003 to 2007, following three years of sub-5% growth.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[World Bank]] |title=GDP growth (annual %): India |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=IN |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818052213/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=IN |archive-date=18 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Increasing foreign investment,<ref name="ChinaDailyEconomy2004" /> modernisation of public and industrial infrastructure, the creation of jobs, a rising high-tech and IT industry and urban modernisation and expansion improved the nation's international image. Good crop harvests and strong industrial expansion also helped the economy.<ref>{{cite news |title=India's Economy Soared by 10% in Last Quarter of 2003 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/01/business/india-s-economy-soared-by-10-in-last-quarter-of-2003.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=1 April 2004 |last=Rai |first=Saritha |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818022529/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/01/business/india-s-economy-soared-by-10-in-last-quarter-of-2003.html |archive-date=18 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

In May 2003, he announced before the parliament that he would make one last effort to achieve peace with Pakistan. The announcement ended a period of 16 months, following the 2001 attack on the Indian parliament, during which India had severed diplomatic ties with Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/02/international/asia/india-announces-steps-in-effort-to-end-its-conflict-with.html |title=India Announces Steps in Effort to End Its Conflict With Pakistan |last=Waldman |first=Amy |date=2 May 2003 |work=The New York Times |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818084005/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/02/international/asia/india-announces-steps-in-effort-to-end-its-conflict-with.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Although diplomatic relations did not pick up immediately, visits were exchanged by high-level officials and the military standoff ended. The Pakistani President and Pakistani politicians, civil and religious leaders hailed this initiative as did the leaders of the United States, Europe and much of the world. In July 2003, Prime Minister Vajpayee visited China and met with various Chinese leaders. He recognised [[Tibet]] as a part of China, which was welcomed by the Chinese leadership, and which, in the following year, recognised [[Sikkim]] as part of India. [[China–India relations]] improved greatly in the following years.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jain |first=B.M. |s2cid=154249140 |date=24 January 2007 |title=India–China relations: issues and emerging trends |journal=The Round Table  |volume=93 |issue=374 |pages=253–269 |doi=10.1080/00358530410001679602 |issn=0035-8533}}</ref>

==== 2004 general election ====
[[File:The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee casting his vote at a polling booth in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on May 5, 2004.jpg|thumb|Prime Minister Vajpayee casting his vote at a polling booth in [[Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], during the 2004 general election.]]
In 2003, news reports suggested a tussle within the BJP with regard to sharing of leadership between Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2003/09/25/stories/2003092507200900.htm |title=Vajpayee is our leader, reiterates BJP |last=Vyas |first=Neena |date=25 September 2003 |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040204045322/http://www.thehindu.com/2003/09/25/stories/2003092507200900.htm |archive-date=4 February 2004 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/17bidwai.htm |title=BJP's leadership fissures |last=Bidwai |first=Praful |date=17 June 2003 |work=Rediff |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724150819/http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jun/17bidwai.htm |archive-date=24 July 2008 |url-status=live  }}</ref> BJP president [[Venkaiah Naidu]] had suggested that Advani must lead the party politically at the 2004 general elections, referring to Vajpayee as ''vikas purush'', Hindi for development man, and Advani as ''loh purush'', iron man.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/atal-bihari-vajpayee-the-pregnant-pause-lengthens-forever/articleshow/65426150.cms|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The pregnant pause lengthens forever|last=Arun|first=T. K.|date=16 August 2018|work=The Economic Times|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817161545/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/atal-bihari-vajpayee-the-pregnant-pause-lengthens-forever/articleshow/65426150.cms|archive-date=17 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> When Vajpayee subsequently threatened retirement, Naidu backtracked, announcing that the party would contest the elections under the twin leadership of Vajpayee and Advani.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2003/06/06/stories/2003060600050800.htm |title=Vikas and loh |last=Raghavan |first=S |date=6 June 2003 |work=Business Line |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523061621/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2003/06/06/stories/2003060600050800.htm |archive-date=23 May 2006 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

The NDA was widely expected to retain power after the [[2004 Indian general election|2004 general election]]. It announced elections six months ahead of schedule, hoping to capitalise on economic growth, and Vajpayee's peace initiative with Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/13/international/asia/in-huge-upset-gandhis-party-wins-election-in-india.html |title=In Huge Upset, Gandhi's Party Wins Election in India |last=Waldman |first=Amy |date=13 May 2004 |work=The New York Times |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818214424/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/13/international/asia/in-huge-upset-gandhis-party-wins-election-in-india.html |archive-date=18 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Guardian_2004">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/may/14/india.randeepramesh |title=Shock defeat for India's Hindu nationalists |last=Ramesh |first=Randeep |date=14 May 2004 |work=The Guardian |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144006/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/may/14/india.randeepramesh |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> The [[13th Lok Sabha]] was dissolved before the completion of its term. The BJP hoped to capitalise on a perceived 'feel-good factor' and BJP's recent successes in the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and [[Chhattisgarh]]. Under the "[[India Shining]]" campaign, it released ads proclaiming the economic growth of the nation under the government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://india.eu.org/1634.html|title=India Shining backfired: Advani – Debating India|website=india.eu.org|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051227081851/http://india.eu.org/1634.html|archive-date=27 December 2005|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/532006/bjp-and-the-india-shining-campaign/|title=BJP and the India Shining campaign {{!}} The Express Tribune|date=6 April 2013|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729065335/https://tribune.com.pk/story/532006/bjp-and-the-india-shining-campaign/|archive-date=29 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

However, the BJP could only win 138 seats in the 543-seat parliament,<ref name="Economist_2004">{{Cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2004/05/13/the-voters-big-surprise |title=The voters' big surprise |date=13 May 2004 |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818214608/https://www.economist.com/asia/2004/05/13/the-voters-big-surprise |archive-date=18 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> with several prominent cabinet ministers being defeated.<ref name="Guardian_2004" /> The NDA coalition won 185 seats. The Indian National Congress, led by [[Sonia Gandhi]], emerged as the single largest party, winning 145 seats in the election. The Congress and its allies, comprising many smaller parties, formed the [[United Progressive Alliance]], accounting for 220 seats in the parliament.<ref name="Economist_2004" /> Vajpayee resigned as prime minister.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/05/13/india.poll.counting/|title=CNN.com – Vajpayee resigns after poll upset – May 13, 2004|publisher=CNN|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816175253/http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/05/13/india.poll.counting/|archive-date=16 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The UPA, with the outside support of communist parties, formed the next government with [[Manmohan Singh]] as the prime minister.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2004/05/20/sonia-and-yet-so-far |title=Sonia: and yet so far |date=20 May 2004 |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818214453/https://www.economist.com/asia/2004/05/20/sonia-and-yet-so-far |archive-date=18 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>                                                   Later, his aide Shiv Kumar Pareek revealed he didn't wanted earlier polls and sensed the defeat earlier.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/atal-bihari-vajpayee-didnt-want-to-advance-2004-polls-feared-defeat-says-his-aide-1906801#google_vignette | title=Vajpayee Didn't Want to Advance 2004 Polls, Feared Defeat, Says Aide }}</ref>

=== Policies ===
Vajpayee's government introduced many domestic economic and infrastructural reforms, including encouraging the private sector and foreign investments, reducing governmental waste, encouraging research and development and privatisation of some government owned corporations.<ref name="auto5"/> Among Vajpayee's projects were the [[National Highways Development Project]] and [[Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana]].<ref name="auto4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/raghuvir-srinivasan/vajpayee-the-intuitive-reformer/article24708987.ece|title=Vajpayee – the intuitive reformer|work=@businessline|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814212317/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/raghuvir-srinivasan/vajpayee-the-intuitive-reformer/article24708987.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pradhan-mantri-gram-sadak-yojana-how-the-programme-impacted-indian-hinterland/|title=Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana: How the programme impacted Indian hinterland|date=25 February 2016|work=The Indian Express|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112072409/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pradhan-mantri-gram-sadak-yojana-how-the-programme-impacted-indian-hinterland/|archive-date=12 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2001, the Vajpayee government launched the [[Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan]] campaign, aimed at improving the quality of education in primary and secondary schools.<ref name="auto3">{{cite web|url=http://mhrd.gov.in/schemes|title=Schemes {{!}} Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development|website=mhrd.gov.in|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029185239/http://mhrd.gov.in/schemes|archive-date=29 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/education/atal-bihari-vajpayees-contribution-towards-education-sector/|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee's contribution towards education sector|date=16 August 2018|work=The Indian Express|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817113725/https://indianexpress.com/article/education/atal-bihari-vajpayees-contribution-towards-education-sector/|archive-date=17 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Post-premiership ==
[[File:Atal Bihari Bajpayee and the BJP President, Shri Rajnath Singh coming out from the polling booth after casting their vote for the Presidential election at Parliament House, in New Delhi on July 19, 2007.jpg|thumb|Vajpayee and [[Rajnath Singh]] (left) during the voting for [[2007 Indian presidential election|2007 Indian Presidential election]]]]
In December 2005, Vajpayee announced his retirement from active politics, declaring that he would not contest in the next general election. In a famous statement at the BJP's silver jubilee rally at Mumbai's [[Shivaji Park]], Vajpayee announced that "Henceforth, [[Lal Krishna Advani]] and [[Pramod Mahajan]] will be the [[Rama|Ram]]-[[Lakshmana|Lakshman]] [the two godly brothers much revered and worshipped by Hindus of the BJP."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4567802.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} World {{!}} South Asia {{!}} Vajpayee to retire from politics|publisher=BBC|access-date=25 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061123203026/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4567802.stm|archive-date=23 November 2006|url-status=live|date=29 December 2005}}</ref> 
                                   
In 2007, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee proposed his name for 2007 presidential polls, but he denied it.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oneindia.com/2007/05/17/race-for-president-not-intersted-vajpayee-1179346008.html | title=Race for President not interested: Vajpayee | date=17 May 2007 }}</ref>{{efn|Earlier, in 2002 RSS wanted him as presidential candidate while during his primership<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/rss-wanted-atal-bihari-vajpayee-as-president-but-sps-choice-apj-abdul-kalam-prevailed/articleshow/48259937.cms | title=RSS wanted Atal Bihari Vajpayee as President but SP's choice APJ Abdul Kalam prevailed | work=The Economic Times | date=29 July 2015 | last1=Manoj | first1=C. L. }}</ref>}}
                             
Vajpayee was referred to as the ''[[Bhishma]] Pitamah'' of Indian politics by former prime minister Manmohan Singh during a speech in the [[Rajya Sabha]], a reference to the character in the Hindu epic [[Mahabharata]] who was held in respect by two warring sides.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/ldquoBhishma-Pitamahrdquo-should-rise-above-party-politics-PM/article15179175.ece|title="Bhishma Pitamah" should rise above party politics: PM|work=The Hindu|access-date=25 July 2017|archive-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817095855/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/ldquoBhishma-Pitamahrdquo-should-rise-above-party-politics-PM/article15179175.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>
                            
Vajpayee was hospitalised at [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi]] (AIIMS) for a chest infection and fever on 6 February 2009. He was put on ventilator support as his condition worsened but he eventually recuperated and was later discharged.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/vajpayee-showing-signs-of-improvement/|title=Vajpayee showing signs of improvement|date=5 February 2009|work=The Indian Express|access-date=25 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421163316/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/vajpayee-showing-signs-of-improvement/|archive-date=21 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Unable to participate in the campaign for the [[2009 Indian general election|2009 general election]] due to his poor health, he wrote a letter urging voters to back the BJP.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/vajpayee-asks-lucknow-voters-to-ensure-bjps-win/|title=Vajpayee asks Lucknow voters to ensure BJP's win|date=17 April 2009|work=The Indian Express|access-date=25 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002185425/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/vajpayee-asks-lucknow-voters-to-ensure-bjps-win/|archive-date=2 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> His protege [[Lalji Tandon]] was able to retain the [[Lucknow (Lok Sabha constituency)|Lucknow]] seat in that election even though the NDA suffered electoral reverses all over the country. It was speculated that Vajpayee's non-partisan appeal contributed to Lalji's success in Lucknow in contrast to that BJP's poor performance elsewhere in [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiainfoline.com/prime-ministers-of-india/atal-bihari-vajpayee|title=Prime Ministers of India&nbsp;– Atal Bihari Vajpayee|last=indiainfoline.com|website=indiainfoline.com|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715100329/http://www.indiainfoline.com/prime-ministers-of-india/atal-bihari-vajpayee|archive-date=15 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Positions held ==
{{further|Electoral history of Atal Bihari Vajpayee}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year || Position || Place || Party || Remark
|-
| 1951
| Founding-Member
| [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
| [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
|
|-
|1957–1962
| [[Member of Parliament India|MP]], [[Balrampur (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
| [[2nd Lok Sabha]]
|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
| 1st Term
|-
| 1957–1977
| Leader
| Bharatiya Jana Sangh Parliamentary Party
|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
|
|-
| 1962–1968
| [[Member of Parliament India|MP]], [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh|Uttar Pradesh]], [[Rajya Sabha]]
| [[Rajya Sabha]]
| [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
| 1st Term (Resigned on 25 February 1967) Elected to Lok Sabha
|-
| 1966–1967
| Chairman
| Committee on Government Assurances
| [[Rajya Sabha]]
|
|-
| 1967
| [[Member of Parliament India|MP]], [[Balrampur (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
| [[4th Lok Sabha]]
|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
| 2nd Term
|-
| 1967–70
| Chairman,
| Public Accounts Committee
|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
|
|-
|1968–1973
| President
| [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
| [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
|
|-
| 1971
| [[Member of Parliament India|MP]], [[Gwalior (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
| [[5th Lok Sabha]]
|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
|3rd Term
|-
| 1977
| [[Member of Parliament India|MP]], [[New Delhi (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
| [[6th Lok Sabha]] (4th term)
|[[Janata Party]]
|(4th term)
|-
| 1977–1979
| Union Cabinet Minister,
| External Affairs
|[[Janata Party]]
|
|-
| 1977–1980
| Founding Member
| [[Janata Party]]
| [[Janata Party]]
|
|-
| 1980
| [[Member of Parliament India|MP]], [[New Delhi (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
| [[7th Lok Sabha]]
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|(5th term)
|-
| 1980–1986
| President,
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|
|-
| 1980–1984, 1986 and 1993–1996
| Leader
| Parliamentary Party
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|
|-
| 1986
| [[Member of Parliament India|MP]], [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Madhya Pradesh|Madhya Pradesh]], [[Rajya Sabha]]
| [[Rajya Sabha]]
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| 2nd Term
|-
| 1988–1989
| Member,
| General Purposes Committee
|[[Rajya Sabha]]
|
|-
| 1988–1990
| Member,
| House Committee
Member, Business Advisory Committee
|[[Rajya Sabha]]
|
|-
| 1990–1991
| Chairman,
| Committee on Petitions
|[[Rajya Sabha]]
|
|-
| 1991
| [[Member of Parliament India|MP]], [[Lucknow (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
| [[10th Lok Sabha]]
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| (6th term)
|-
|1991–1993
|Chairman,
|Public Accounts Committee
| [[Lok Sabha]]
|
|-
|1993–1996
|Chairman,
|Committee on External Affairs
|[[Lok Sabha]]
|
|-
| 1993–1996
| Leader of Opposition,
| [[Lok Sabha]]
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|
|-
| 1996
| [[Member of Parliament India|MP]], [[Lucknow (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
| [[11th Lok Sabha]]
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| 7th Term
|-
| 16 May 1996 – 31 May 1996
| Prime Minister of India; and in charge of other subjects not allocated to any other Cabinet Minister
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|
|-
| 1996–1997
| Leader of Opposition,
| [[Lok Sabha]]
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|
|-
| 1997–1998
| Chairman,
| Committee on External Affairs
| [[Lok Sabha]]
|
|-
| 1998
| [[Member of Parliament India|MP]], [[Lucknow (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
| [[12th Lok Sabha]]
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| 8th Term
|-
| 1998–1999
| Prime Minister of India; Minister of External Affairs; and also incharge of Ministries/Departments not specifically allocated to the charge of any Minister
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|
|-
| 1999
| [[Member of Parliament India|MP]], [[Lucknow (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
| [[13th Lok Sabha]]
| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| 9th Term
|-
| 1999
| Leader,
| Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|
|-
| 13 Oct.1999- May 2004
| Prime Minister of India and also in charge of the Ministries/Departments not specifically allocated to the charge of any Minister
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|
|-
| 2004
| [[Member of Parliament India|MP]], [[Lucknow (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
|[[14th Lok Sabha]]
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| 10th Term
|-
| 2004
| Chairman,
| Parliamentary Party
|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]] &
[[National Democratic Alliance (India)]]
|
|-
|}

== Personal life ==
Vajpayee remained a bachelor for his entire life.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/to-evade-marriage-atal-bihari-vajpayee-locked-himself-up-for-3-days/articleshow/65447395.cms|title=To evade marriage, Atal Bihari Vajpayee locked himself up for 3 days |work=The Times of India|access-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723190653/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/to-evade-marriage-atal-bihari-vajpayee-locked-himself-up-for-3-days/articleshow/65447395.cms|archive-date=23 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> He adopted and raised Namita Bhattacharya as his own child, the daughter of longtime friend [[Rajkumari Kaul]] and her husband B. N. Kaul. His adopted family lived with him.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/mrs-kaul-delhis-most-famous-unknown-other-half-passes-away-2/|title=Mrs Kaul, Delhi's most famous unknown other half, passes away|date=4 May 2014|work=The Indian Express|access-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131194904/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/mrs-kaul-delhis-most-famous-unknown-other-half-passes-away-2/|archive-date=31 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Unlike purist [[Brahmin]]s who shun meat and alcohol, Vajpayee was known to be fond of [[whisky]] and meat.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/20/world/man-atal-bihari-vajpayee-sworn-india-s-leader-ambiguity-his-wake.html |title=Man in the News: Atal Bihari Vajpayee; Sworn In as India's Leader, Ambiguity in His Wake |last=Burns |first=John F. |date=20 March 1998 |work=The New York Times |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818120652/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/20/world/man-atal-bihari-vajpayee-sworn-india-s-leader-ambiguity-his-wake.html |archive-date=18 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/atal-bihari-vajpayee-prime-minister-who-made-india-a-nuclear-power-dies-at-93/2018/08/16/e04da47e-a150-11e8-93e3-24d1703d2a7a_story.html |title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee, prime minister who made India a nuclear power, dies at 93 |last1=Lakshmi |first1=Rama |date=16 August 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=18 August 2018 |last2=Joshi |first2=Sopan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818115208/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/atal-bihari-vajpayee-prime-minister-who-made-india-a-nuclear-power-dies-at-93/2018/08/16/e04da47e-a150-11e8-93e3-24d1703d2a7a_story.html |archive-date=18 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> He was a noted poet, writing in Hindi. His [[#Published works|published works]] include ''Kaidi Kaviraj Ki Kundalian'', a collection of poems written during the 1975–1977 emergency, and ''Amar aag hai''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/profile-atal-behari-vajpayee-130310.html |title=Profile: Atal Behari Vajpayee |last=Popham |first=Peter |date=25 May 2002 |work=The Independent |access-date=18 August 2018 |archive-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818130646/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/profile-atal-behari-vajpayee-130310.html |url-status=live }}</ref> With regard to his poetry he wrote

<blockquote>"My poetry is a declaration of war, not an [[Exordium (rhetoric)|exordium]] to defeat. It is not the defeated soldier's drumbeat of despair, but the fighting warrior's will to win. It is not the despirited voice of dejection but the stirring shout of victory."<ref>''Values, Vision & Verses of Vajpayee: India's Man of Destiny'' page&nbsp;– iii</ref> </blockquote>

==Illness and death==
{{main|Death and state funeral of Atal Bihari Vajpayee}}
Vajpayee had a stroke in 2009 which impaired his speech.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/A-peek-into-the-life-Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee-now-leads/articleshow/32683790.cms|title=A peek into the life Atal Bihari Vajpayee now leads |work=The Times of India|access-date=27 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723040833/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/A-peek-into-the-life-Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee-now-leads/articleshow/32683790.cms|archive-date=23 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> His health had been a major source of concern; reports said he was reliant on a wheelchair and failed to recognise people. He also had [[dementia]] and long-term [[Diabetes mellitus|diabetes]]. For many years, he had not attended any public engagements and rarely ventured out of the house, except for checkups at the [[All India Institutes of Medical Sciences]].<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/vajpayee-turns-88-amid-health-concerns_748305.html|title=Vajpayee turns 88 amid health concerns|date=23 December 2011|work=Zee News|access-date=27 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421163628/http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/vajpayee-turns-88-amid-health-concerns_748305.html|archive-date=21 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 11 June 2018, Vajpayee was admitted to AIIMS in critical condition following a kidney infection.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sharma |first=Parth |agency=Press Trust of India |date=12 June 2018 |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/atal-bihari-vajpayees-condition-stable-but-will-remain-in-hospital-for-now-says-aiims-1776437.html|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Condition Stable But Will Remain in Hospital For Now, Says AIIMS |work=News18 |access-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612213712/https://www.news18.com/news/india/atal-bihari-vajpayees-condition-stable-but-will-remain-in-hospital-for-now-says-aiims-1776437.html |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/doctors-say-atal-bihari-vajpayee-s-condition-stable-manmohan-singh-visits-aiims-delhi/story-yN5ABkfB0DPpdt6IlslgMM.html|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee's condition 'stable', Manmohan Singh pays a visit|date=12 June 2018|access-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612210915/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/doctors-say-atal-bihari-vajpayee-s-condition-stable-manmohan-singh-visits-aiims-delhi/story-yN5ABkfB0DPpdt6IlslgMM.html|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He was officially declared dead there at 5:05&nbsp;pm [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] on 16 August 2018 at the age of 93.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/atal-bihari-vajpayee-former-prime-minister-and-bjp-stalwart-passes-away-aged-93-1845937.html|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Former Prime Minister and BJP Stalwart, Passes Away Aged 93 at AIIMS|date=16 August 2018|work=[[News18]]|access-date=16 August 2018|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225003202/https://www.news18.com/news/india/modi-pays-last-respects-to-atal-bihari-vajpayee-at-his-residence-says-lost-a-father-figure-live-updates-1845937.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TheHinduDeath">{{cite news|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister, passes away at 93|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-prime-minister-atal-bihari-vajpayee-passes-away-at-93/article24704802.ece|access-date=16 August 2018|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=16 August 2018|archive-date=8 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208065037/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-prime-minister-atal-bihari-vajpayee-passes-away-at-93/article24704802.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Some sources claim that he had died on the previous day.<ref name="ndtvDeath">{{cite news|title=Sena Leader Questions Day Of Vajpayee's Death, Links It To PM's Speech|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sena-leader-questions-day-of-vajpayees-death-links-it-to-pms-speech-1906692?type=news&id=1906692&category=india-news|access-date=27 August 2018|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=27 August 2018|archive-date=28 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828170132/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sena-leader-questions-day-of-vajpayees-death-links-it-to-pms-speech-1906692?type=news&id=1906692&category=india-news|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="PuneMirrordeath">{{cite news|title=Vajpayee death announced a day late, claims PCB official|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/others/vajpayee-death-announced-a-day-late-claims-pcb-official/articleshow/65457569.cms|access-date=19 August 2018|work={{ill|PuneMirror|nl|Pune Mirror}}|date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828140057/https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/others/vajpayee-death-announced-a-day-late-claims-pcb-official/articleshow/65457569.cms|archive-date=28 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> A seven-day state mourning was announced by the central government throughout India. The national flag flew half-mast during this period.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee Dies at 93 : National Mourning Declared for 7 days : Tricolor To Fly Half Mast |url=https://headlinestoday.org/national/1575/former-pm-atal-bihari-vajpayee-dies-at-93-national-mourning-declared-for-7-days-tricolor-to-fly-half-mast/ |access-date=27 August 2018 |agency=Headlines Today |date=16 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827155606/https://headlinestoday.org/national/1575/former-pm-atal-bihari-vajpayee-dies-at-93-national-mourning-declared-for-7-days-tricolor-to-fly-half-mast/ |archive-date=27 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Awards and honours ==
=== National honours ===
*{{flag|India}}:
**[[File:Bharat Ratna Ribbon.svg|50px]] [[Bharat Ratna]] (27 March 2015)<ref name="gettyimages.in">{{cite web| url = https://www.gettyimages.in/detail/news-photo/indian-prime-minister-atal-behari-vajpayee-is-welcomed-and-news-photo/103938127?adppopup=true| title = Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is welcomed and decorated... News Photo – Getty Images| date = 9 September 2010| access-date = 27 October 2020| archive-date = 30 October 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201030140631/https://www.gettyimages.in/detail/news-photo/indian-prime-minister-atal-behari-vajpayee-is-welcomed-and-news-photo/103938127?adppopup=true| url-status = live}}</ref>
**[[File:Padma Vibhushan Ribbon.svg|50px]] [[Padma Vibhushan]] (1992)

=== Foreign honours ===
*{{flag|Morocco}}:
**[[File:Ordre de l'Ouissam Alaouite GC ribbon (Maroc).svg|50px]] [[Order of Ouissam Alaouite]], ''Grand Cordon'' (13 February 1999)<ref name="gettyimages.in"/>
*{{flag|Bangladesh}}:
**[[File:Noribbon.svg|50px]] [[Awards and decorations of the Bangladesh Liberation War|Bangladesh Liberation War Honour]] (7 June 2015)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Unb |first=Dhaka |date=8 June 2015 |title=Vajpayee honoured |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/vajpayee-honoured-93679 |access-date=23 April 2023 |website=The Daily Star |language=en |archive-date=23 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423052635/https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/vajpayee-honoured-93679 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1 June 2015 |title=Vajpayee to be honoured with 'Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War Award' by Bangladesh |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/vajpayee-to-be-honoured-with-friends-of-bangladesh-liberation-war-award-by-bangladesh/articleshow/47498345.cms |access-date=23 April 2023 |issn=0013-0389 |archive-date=23 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423052635/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/vajpayee-to-be-honoured-with-friends-of-bangladesh-liberation-war-award-by-bangladesh/articleshow/47498345.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Honorary degrees ===
*{{flagicon|India}} [[Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University|Kanpur University]]
**[[Doctor of Letters]] (D. Lit.) (1993)<ref name=":0" />

=== Honorary awards ===
* 1994, [[Lokmanya Tilak National Award]]<ref name=":0" />
* 1994, [[Outstanding Parliamentarian Award]]<ref name=":0" />
* 1994, Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant Award<ref name=":0" />

=== Competitive awards ===
* 2000, [[Screen Award for Best Lyricist|Screen Award for Best Non-Film Lyrics]] – ''Nayi Disha''<ref>{{cite news |title=When Atal Bihari Vajpayee won a Screen Award|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/when-atal-bihari-vajpayee-won-a-screen-award/ |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=25 December 2014 |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref>

=== Recognition ===
* In 2004, Vajpayee was named one of the [[Time 100|100 Most Influential Persons]] by the [[Time (magazine)|Time Magazine]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The 2004 TIME 100|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1970858,00.html|publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=30 July 2024|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010133310/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1970858,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* In 2012, Vajpayee was ranked number 9 in ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]'' magazine's poll of ''[[The Greatest Indian]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/a-measure-of-the-man/281949 |title=A Measure Of The Man |magazine=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |first=Uttam |last=Sengupta |date=20 August 2012 |access-date=31 December 2019 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501020655/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/a-measure-of-the-man/281949 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* In August 2018, Naya Raipur was renamed as [[Atal Nagar]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chhattisgarh-cabinet-agrees-to-rename-naya-raipur-as-atal-nagar-vajpayee-5317603/|title=Chhattisgarh Cabinet agrees to rename Naya Raipur as Atal Nagar|date=21 August 2018|work=The Indian Express|access-date=21 August 2018|archive-date=21 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821213450/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chhattisgarh-cabinet-agrees-to-rename-naya-raipur-as-atal-nagar-vajpayee-5317603/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="htorgNews">{{cite news |title=Chhattisgarh Govt Renames {{sic|I|t's|nolink=y}} New Capital Naya Raipur To "Atal Nagar", Pays Tribute To Vajpayee in Unique Way |url=https://headlinestoday.org/national/1802/chhattisgarh-govt-renames-it-new-capital-naya-raipur-to-atal-nagar-pays-tribute-in-unique-way/ |access-date=21 August 2018 |agency=Headlines Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821191859/https://headlinestoday.org/national/1802/chhattisgarh-govt-renames-it-new-capital-naya-raipur-to-atal-nagar-pays-tribute-in-unique-way/ |archive-date=21 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* In October 2018, four Himalayan peaks near [[Gangotri Glacier]]; [[Atal I]], [[Atal II]], [[Atal III]], and [[Atal IV]] were named after him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/4-mountain-peaks-named-after-former-pm-atal-bihari-vajpayee-1373419-2018-10-23|title=4 mountain peaks named after former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee|website=India Today|date=23 October 2018 |access-date=6 November 2018|archive-date=7 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107010124/https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/4-mountain-peaks-named-after-former-pm-atal-bihari-vajpayee-1373419-2018-10-23|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Published works ==
Vajpayee authored several works of both [[Hindi poetry]] and [[prose]]. Some of his major publications are listed below. In addition to these, various collections were made of his speeches, articles, and slogans.<ref name=":4" />{{sfn|Vajpayee|2000|p=}}{{sfn|Vajpayee|1977|p=}}

=== Prose ===
* ''National Integration'' (1961){{sfn|Vajpayee|1961|p=}}
* ''New Dimensions of India's Foreign Policy'' (1979)<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/events/atal-bihari-vajpayee-books-by-the-former-indian-prime-minister-atal-bihari-vajpayee/articleshow/65426059.cms|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Books by the former Indian Prime Minister |work=The Times of India|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816201157/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/events/atal-bihari-vajpayee-books-by-the-former-indian-prime-minister-atal-bihari-vajpayee/articleshow/65426059.cms|archive-date=16 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''Gathbandhan Ki Rajniti''{{sfn|Vajpayee|2004|p=}}
* ''Kuchh Lekh, Kuchh Bhashan'' (1996){{sfn|Vajpayee|1996|p=}}
* ''Bindu-Bindu Vichar'' (1997){{sfn|Vajpayee|1997|p=}}
* ''Decisive Days'' (1999){{sfn|Vajpayee|1999a|p=}}
* ''Sankalpakal'' (1999){{sfn|Vajpayee|1999b|p=}}
* ''Vichar-Bindu'' (Hindi Edition, 2000)<ref name=":4" />
* ''India's Perspectives on ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific Region'' (2003){{sfn|Vajpayee|2002|p=}}
* ''Na Dainyam Na Palayanam''{{sfn|Vajpayee|1998|p=}}
* ''Nayi Chunauti : Naya Avasar''{{sfn|Vajpayee|2011|p=}}

=== Poetry ===
* ''Qaidi Kaviraj Ki Kundaliyan''<ref name=":4" />
* ''Amar Aag Hai'' (1994)<ref name=":4" />
* ''Meri Ikyavan Kavitaen'' (1995){{sfn|Vajpayee|1995|p=}} Some of these poems were set to music by [[Jagjit Singh]] for his album ''Samvedna''.<ref name="singh_music">{{cite news |title=When Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shah Rukh Khan and Jagjit Singh came together for a music video |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/atal-bihari-vajpayee-shah-rukh-khan-jagjit-singh-kya-khoya-kya-paya-music-video-5309353/ |access-date=17 August 2018 |work=The Indian Express |date=16 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817175928/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/atal-bihari-vajpayee-shah-rukh-khan-jagjit-singh-kya-khoya-kya-paya-music-video-5309353/ |archive-date=17 August 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
* ''Kya Khoya Kya Paya: Atal Bihari Vajapeyi, Vyaktitva Aur Kavitaen'' (1999){{sfn|Vajpayee|1999c|p=}}
* ''Values, Vision & Verses of Vajpayee: India's Man of Destiny'' (2001){{sfn|Vajpayee|2001a|p=}}
* ''Twenty-One Poems'' (2003){{sfn|Vajpayee|2001b|p=}}
* ''Chuni Hui Kavitaen'' (2012){{sfn|Vajpayee|2012|p=}}

An English translation of a selection of some of Vajpayee's Hindi poetry was published in 2013.{{sfn|Vajpayee|2013|p=}}Literary critics have noted that his poetry reflects themes of moral optimism, duty, and civilisational continuity, which also shaped his public life.

== Legacy ==
{{Main|List of things named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee}}
[[File:Prime Minister Modi at Sadaiv Atal.jpg|alt=|thumb|Prime Minister Modi at Vajpayee's memorial, [[Raj Ghat and associated memorials|Sadaiv Atal]]]]
The administration of [[Narendra Modi]] declared in 2014 that Vajpayee's birthday, 25&nbsp;December, would be marked as [[Good Governance Day]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bharat-ratna-for-vajpayee-madan-mohan-malviya/article6721942.ece|title=Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee, Madan Mohan Malaviya|author=Smriti Kak Ramachandran|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=26 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225122940/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bharat-ratna-for-vajpayee-madan-mohan-malviya/article6721942.ece|archive-date=25 December 2014|url-status=live|date=24 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/government-to-announce-bharat-ratna-for-atal-bihari-vajpayee-madan-mohan-malaviya-today-sources-639001|title=Bharat Ratna for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Madan Mohan Malaviya Likely To be Announced Today|author=Rahul Shrivastava|date=23 December 2014|website=NDTV.com|access-date=24 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224045914/http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/government-to-announce-bharat-ratna-for-atal-bihari-vajpayee-madan-mohan-malaviya-today-sources-639001|archive-date=24 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The world's longest tunnel above {{Convert|10000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, [[Atal Tunnel]] at [[Rohtang]], Himachal Pradesh, on the Leh-Manali Highway was named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee.<ref>{{cite news |last1=PTI |last2=Srinivasan |first2=Chandrashekar |title=PM Modi Inaugurates Strategically Important Atal Tunnel At Rohtang In Himachal |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-inaugurates-strategically-important-atal-tunnel-at-rohtang-in-himachal-2304569 |access-date=3 October 2020 |work=NDTV.com |date=3 October 2020 |archive-date=3 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003154136/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-inaugurates-strategically-important-atal-tunnel-at-rohtang-in-himachal-2304569 |url-status=live }}</ref> The third longest cable-stayed bridge in India over the [[Mandovi River]], [[Atal Setu (Goa)|Atal Setu]] was named in his memory.<ref>{{cite news |title=Goa gets cable-stayed bridge over Mandovi river, Manohar Parrikar hails Gadkari as his hero |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manohar-parrikar-nitin-gadkari-goa-cable-stayed-bridge-mandovi-river-5557261/ |access-date=3 October 2020 |work=The Indian Express |date=28 January 2019 |language=en |archive-date=8 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108000405/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manohar-parrikar-nitin-gadkari-goa-cable-stayed-bridge-mandovi-river-5557261/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Government of Chhattisgarh]] changed the name of [[Naya Raipur]] to [[Atal Nagar]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Atal Nagar: Naya Raipur to be named as Atal Nagar in memory of Atal Bihari Vajpayee |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/naya-raipur-to-be-named-as-atal-nagar-in-memory-of-atal-bihari-vajpayee/articleshow/65490440.cms?from=mdr |access-date=9 October 2020 |work=The Economic Times |date=25 October 2018 |archive-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415211134/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/naya-raipur-to-be-named-as-atal-nagar-in-memory-of-atal-bihari-vajpayee/articleshow/65490440.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live }}</ref> Mainstream media often connect Vajpayee to infrastructure vision for years to come.<ref>Palshikar, Suhas (2018). “Vajpayee's Legacy in Indian Democracy.” _Economic & Political Weekly_. Vol I, pp. 110.</ref>

Vajpayee's legacy is frequently discussed in the context of India's evolving civilisational politics. Commentators argue that he broadened the appeal of cultural nationalism by combining it with consensual politics, parliamentary decorum, and a commitment to democratic institutions. His rhetorical style and poetry continue to be cited as expressions of a vision of India that integrates modern governance with cultural self-awareness. His tenure is often described as laying the institutional foundations for later political articulations of Indian cultural identity, making him a central figure in the long-term evolution of conservative and nationalist thought in India.<ref>Sahasrabuddhe, Vinay (2009). _Beyond a Billion Ballots: Democratic Governance in India_. SAGE. pp. 187-197.</ref><ref>Bose, Sumantra (2013). _Transforming India: Challenges to the World's Largest Democracy_. Harvard University Press. pp. 148-158.</ref> Jaswant Singh has provided an insider's perspective by describing Vajpayee's role in cultural nationalism.<ref>Singh, Jaswant (2006). _A Call to Honour_. Rupa. (See section on Kargil leadership.)</ref>

Much of the later portrayal of Vajpayee as a conciliatory or centrist figure reflects the interpretive frameworks of writers uncomfortable with acknowledging the cultural-nationalist roots of his politics. These portrayals do not alter the documentary evidence of his lifelong ideological alignment within the RSS tradition.Vajpayee's political formation lay entirely within the cultural-nationalist tradition of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), whose ideological vocabulary and organisational discipline shaped his public life from adolescence onward. His emergence as a national leader therefore reflected the maturation of this cultural-nationalist current in Indian politics rather than any departure from it. Later commentators have variously approved or disapproved of this fact—often interpreting his style through their own political frameworks—but the historical record consistently situates him within the trajectory of Hindu cultural nationalism.<ref>“Atal Bihari Vajpayee: A statesman regarded ...” (17 Aug 2018). _The New Indian Express_. [Article by Santwana Bhattacharya].</ref><ref>“A Statesman Departs” (17 Aug 2018). _The Hindu_. p. [insert].</ref><ref>Menon, Meena (1999). “Moderation as Political Strategy: The Case of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.” _Economic & Political Weekly_, Vol 34. pp. [insert].</ref>

== In popular culture ==
The [[Films Division of India]] has produced the short documentary films ''Pride of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee'' (1998) and ''Know Your Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee'' (2003), both directed by Girish Vaidya, which explore different facets of his personality.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PRIDE OF INDIA ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE {{!}} Films Division|url=https://filmsdivision.org/shop/pride-of-india-atal-bihari-vajpayee|access-date=11 June 2021|website=filmsdivision.org|archive-date=11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611125418/https://filmsdivision.org/shop/pride-of-india-atal-bihari-vajpayee|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Know Your Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee {{!}} Films Division|url=https://filmsdivision.org/shop/know-your-prime-minister-atal-behari-vajpayee|access-date=11 June 2021|website=filmsdivision.org|archive-date=11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611125414/https://filmsdivision.org/shop/know-your-prime-minister-atal-behari-vajpayee|url-status=live}}</ref> Vajpayee also appears in a cameo in the 1977 Indian [[Hindi]]-language film ''[[Chala Murari Hero Banne]]'' by [[Asrani]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chala Murari Hero Banne (1977)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faQ_HK9kAYg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/faQ_HK9kAYg| archive-date=28 October 2021|url-status=live|publisher=Cinecurry Classics}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

''[[Aap Ki Adalat]]'', an Indian talk show which airs on [[India TV]], featured an interview with Vajpayee just before the 1999 elections.<ref>{{Citation|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Aap Ki Adalat (Full Episode)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBTVC7INyws| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/bBTVC7INyws| archive-date=28 October 2021|language=en|access-date=10 June 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''[[Pradhanmantri]]'' ({{Literal translation|Prime Minister}}), a 2013 Indian documentary television series which aired on [[ABP News]] and covers the various policies and political tenures of Indian PMs, includes the tenureship of Vajpayee in the episodes "Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 13 days government and India during 1996–98", "Pokhran-II and Kargil War", and "2002 Gujarat Riots and Fall of Vajpayee Government".<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 December 2013|title=Pradhanmantri: When Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the Prime Minister|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pos8Bc9rxU| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/7pos8Bc9rxU| archive-date=28 October 2021|url-status=live|publisher=ABP News}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Abhishek Choudhary wrote an original portrait of Hindutva's first prime minister in ''VAJPAYEE: The Ascent of the Hindu Right, 1924–1977''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hebbar |first=Nistula |date=2 June 2023 |title=Review of Abhishek Choudhary's Vajpayee: The Ascent of the Hindu Right 1924-1977; The right man in the right party |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/politician-prime-minister-vajpayee-india-politics/article66896588.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327172234/https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/politician-prime-minister-vajpayee-india-politics/article66896588.ece |archive-date=27 March 2024 |access-date=27 February 2024 |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The book won the 2023 Tata Literature Live! First Book Award.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tata Literature Live! Book of The Year Award – Non Fiction |url=https://tatalitlive.in/awards/tata-literature-live-book-of-the-year-non-fiction/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227125240/https://tatalitlive.in/awards/tata-literature-live-book-of-the-year-non-fiction/ |archive-date=27 February 2024 |access-date=27 February 2024 |work=Tata Literature Live}}</ref>

In 2019, Shiva Sharma and Zeeshan Ahmad, owners of Amaash Films, acquired the official rights of the book ''The Untold Vajpayee written'' by Ullekh N P, to make a biopic based on Vajpayee's life from his childhood, college life and finally turning into a politician.<ref>{{Cite news |last=IANS |date=27 August 2019 |title=Movie to be made on former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's life |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/atal-bihari-vajpayees-life-story-to-hit-the-big-screen/article29269969.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415061229/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/atal-bihari-vajpayees-life-story-to-hit-the-big-screen/article29269969.ece |archive-date=15 April 2021 |access-date=19 March 2021 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=27 August 2019 |title=Biopic on Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Tentatively Titled The Untold Vajpayee, To Hit The Big Screen |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/entertainment-news-biopic-on-atal-bihari-vajpayee-tentatively-titled-the-untold-vajpayee-to-hit-the-big-screen/337268 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415061110/https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/entertainment-news-biopic-on-atal-bihari-vajpayee-tentatively-titled-the-untold-vajpayee-to-hit-the-big-screen/337268 |archive-date=15 April 2021 |access-date=19 March 2021 |work=Outlook}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=IANS |date=27 August 2019 |title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee's life story to hit the big screen as 'The Untold Vajpaye' |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/bollywood/atal-bihari-vajpayees-life-story-to-hit-the-big-screen-as-the-untold-vajpaye |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415061227/https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/bollywood/atal-bihari-vajpayees-life-story-to-hit-the-big-screen-as-the-untold-vajpaye |archive-date=15 April 2021 |access-date=19 March 2021 |work=Free Press Journal |language=en}}</ref>

Hindi-language film "[[Main Atal Hoon]]", starring [[Pankaj Tripathi]] as Vajpayee, was theatrically released in India on 19 January 2024.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Farzeen |first1=Sana |date=19 January 2024 |title=Main Atal Hoon Review: Pankaj Tripathi is 'atal' in attempt to save shaky biopic |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/reviews/story/main-atal-hoon-review-pankaj-tripathi-is-atal-in-attempt-to-save-shaky-biopic-2490607-2024-01-19 |magazine=India Today |access-date=20 January 2024 |archive-date=20 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120122452/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/reviews/story/main-atal-hoon-review-pankaj-tripathi-is-atal-in-attempt-to-save-shaky-biopic-2490607-2024-01-19 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of national presidents of the Bharatiya Janata Party]]
* [[List of Indian writers]]
* [[List of Padma Vibhushan award recipients]]
* [[List of longest-serving members of the Parliament of India]]

== References ==
=== Notes ===
{{notelist}}

=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

=== Sources ===
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* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=Kucha lekha, kucha bhāshaṇa |year=1996 |publisher=Kitāba Ghara |others=Śarmā, Candrikā Prasāda. |isbn=978-8170163398 |edition=1. saṃskaraṇa |location=Nayī Dillī |oclc=36430396 }}
* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=Bindu-bindu vicāra |year=1997 |publisher=Kitābaghara |others=Śarmā, Candrikā Prasāda. |isbn=978-8170163862 |edition=1. saṃskaraṇa |location=Nayī Dillī |oclc=39733207 }}
* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=Na dainyaṃ na palāyanam |year=1998 |publisher=Kitāba Ghara |others=Śarmā, Candrikā Prasāda. |isbn=978-8170164241 |edition=1. saṃskaraṇa |location=Nayī Dillī |oclc=41002985 }}
* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=Decisive days |year=1999a |publisher=Shipra Publications |others=Ghaṭāṭe, Nā. Mā. (Narayana Madhava) |isbn=978-8175410480 |location=Delhi |oclc=43905101 }}
* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=Samkalpa-kāla |year=1999b |publisher=Prabhāta Prakāśana |others=Ghaṭāṭe, Narayana Madhyama |isbn=978-8173153006 |location=Dillī |oclc=874550695 }}
* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=Kyā khoyā kyā pāyā : Aṭala Vihārī Vājapeyī, vyaktitva aura kavitāeṃ |year=1999c |publisher=Rājapāla eṇḍa Sanza |others=Nandana, Kanhaiyālāla, 1933–2010. |isbn=978-8170283355 |edition=1. saṃskaraṇa |location=Dillī |oclc=43992648 }}
* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, selected speeches 2000–2002 |publisher=Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India |others=India. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Publications Division. |isbn=978-8123008349 |location=New Delhi |oclc=45499698 |year=2000 }}
* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=Values, vision & verses of Vajpayee : India's man of destiny |year=2001a |publisher=Srijan Prakashan |others=Goyal, Bhagwat S., 1939– |isbn=978-8187996002 |edition=1st |location=Ghaziabad |oclc=4766656 }}
* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=Twenty-one poems |year=2001b |publisher=Viking |others=Varma, Pavan K., 1953- |isbn=978-0-670-04917-2 |location=New Delhi |oclc=49619164 }}
* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=India's Perspectives on ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific Region |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JPsg8zyvGHEC |year=2002 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) |isbn=9789812306111 |location=Singapore |oclc=748241801 |access-date=8 June 2020 |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329122506/https://books.google.com/books?id=JPsg8zyvGHEC |url-status=live }}
* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=Gaṭhabandhana kī rājanīti |year=2004 |publisher=Prabhāta Prakāśana |others=Ghaṭāṭe, Nā. Mā. (Narayana Madhava) |isbn=978-8173154799 |edition=Saṃskaraṇa 1 |location=Naī Dillī |oclc=60392662 }}
* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=Nayi Chunouti : Naya Avasar |publisher=KITABGHAR PRAKASHAN |year=2011 |isbn=978-9383233595 |language=hi }}
* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=Chuni Hui Kavitayein |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |year=2012 |isbn=978-9350481639 }}
* {{citation |last=Vajpayee |first=Atal Bihari |title=Selected poems |year=2013 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |others=Shah, Arvind (Poet) |isbn=9789350484326 |edition=Ed. 1st |location=New Delhi |oclc=861540562 }}
* {{citation |editor-last=Vora |editor-first=Rajendra |editor-last2=Palshikar |editor-first2=Suhas |title=Indian Democracy: Meanings and Practices |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rLWICwAAQBAJ |publisher=SAGE Publications India |year=2003 |isbn=9789351500193 |access-date=16 August 2018 |archive-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329122508/https://books.google.com/books?id=rLWICwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}
{{Refend}}

== Further reading ==
{{Refbegin}}
* L.K. Advani. ''[[My Country My Life]]''. (2008). {{ISBN|978-81-291-1363-4}}.
* M.P. Kamal. ''Bateshwar to Prime Minister House&nbsp;– An Interesting Description of Different Aspects of Atalji's ''. (2003). {{ISBN|978-81-7604-600-8}}.
* G.N.S. Raghavan. ''New Era in the Indian Polity, A Study of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the BJP''. (1996). {{ISBN|978-81-212-0539-9}}.
* P. R Trivedi. ''Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The man India needs : the most appropriate leader for the twentyfirst century''. (2000). {{ISBN|978-81-7696-001-4}}.
* Sujata K. Dass. " prem k jain ". (2004). {{ISBN|978-81-7835-277-0}}.
* Chandrika Prasad Sharma. ''Poet politician Atal Bihari Vajpayee: A biography''. (1998). {{ASIN|B0006FD11E}}.
* Sheila Vazirani. ''Atal Bihari Vajpayee; profile & personal views (Know thy leaders)''. (1967). {{ASIN|B0006FFBV2}}.
* C.P. Thakur. ''India Under Atal Behari Vajpayee: The BJP Era''. (1999). {{ISBN|978-81-7476-250-4}}
* Sita Ram Sharma. ''Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee: Commitment to power''. (1998). {{ISBN|978-81-85809-24-3}}.
* Bhagwat S. Goyal ''Values, Vision & Verses of Vajpayee: India's Man of Destiny'' 2001 [[Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh]]. {{ISBN|81-87996-00-5}}.
* Darshan Singh. ''Atal Behari Vajpayee: The arch of India''. (2001). {{ISBN|978-81-86405-25-3}}.
* Yogesh Atal. ''Mandate for political transition: Re-emergence of Vaypayee''. (2000). {{ASIN|B0006FEIHA}}.
* Sujata K. Das. ''Atal Bihari Vajpayee''. (2004). {{ISBN|978-8178352770}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Atal Bihari Vajpayee}}
{{wikisource|works=or}}
* [http://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-atal-bihari-vajpayee/ Profile] – Govt. of India
* [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1746861.stm Profile] at ''[[BBC News]]''
* {{C-SPAN|85862}}
*{{IMDb name|id=1528651}}
*{{OL author}}

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[[Category:Presidents of Bharatiya Janata Party]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in public affairs]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:India MPs 1957–1962]]
[[Category:India MPs 1967–1970]]
[[Category:India MPs 1971–1977]]
[[Category:India MPs 1977–1979]]
[[Category:India MPs 1980–1984]]
[[Category:India MPs 1991–1996]]
[[Category:India MPs 1996–1997]]
[[Category:India MPs 1998–1999]]
[[Category:India MPs 1999–2004]]
[[Category:India MPs 2004–2009]]
[[Category:Commerce and industry ministers of India]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Hindi-language Indian writers]]
[[Category:Hindi-language poets]]
[[Category:Indian editors]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Delhi]]
[[Category:Leaders of the opposition (India)]]
[[Category:Indian people imprisoned during the Emergency (India)]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of British India]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Jana Sangh politicians]]
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[[Category:Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University alumni]]
[[Category:Ministers of power of India]]
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[[Category:Ig Nobel laureates]]
[[Category:Science ministers of India]]