LK Advani calls Atal Bihari Vajpayee his role model, guide

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Advani said that in Vajpayee's entire tenure as PM there was not one single aspect which can be regarded as a blot on him in his career.

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party patriarch LK Advani called former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee his role model and guide.

Speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN, Advani said, "In Vajpayee's entire tenure as PM there is not one single aspect which I can regard as been a blot on him in his career."

Here is an excerpt from the interview:

CNN-IBN: Talking about your journey with Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1984 when BJP won 2 seats and then you went up to 120 in 1991 you were a close associate of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, how did you and Vajpayee respond to this transition of the party?

LK Advani: We felt happy that we have been denied any excuse for not succeeding in our efforts to serve the country.

CNN-IBN: As the BJP president you presided over often referred to Indian political history as the revival of the BJP. You embarked on mass campaigns you took out several rath yatras as well but when it came to naming prime ministerial candidate you conceded the space for Atal Bihari Vajpayee. What was the political thought went behind that?

LK Advani: Very often it is thought that I conceded the space, but it was his natural space. I always regarded him as my leader. I, in fact, have been saying now these days after these interviews that for me he was a role model. How leader of the country should be like. Both in respect of his attitude to issues as well as in respect above all his absolute modesty and humility even when he could credit himself with many achievements. In fact in his entire tenure as PM there is not one single aspect which I can regard as been a blot on him in his career.

CNN-IBN: What's one moment ever since Atal Bihari Vajpayee out of active politics you felt that he should have been perhaps more active at that one moment that you remembered him in the last few years?

LK Advani: I can't think of any. I feel very sad today when I meet him. In fact in one of my last yatras I said that in all my earlier yatras he was always there to guide me but this is my first yatra that I am undertaking where I don't have his guidance.