On August 16, 2026, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary. They hailed him as a visionary leader whose contributions shaped modern India.
Vajpayee, a Bharat Ratna awardee and three-time Prime Minister, passed away on August 16, 2018, at the age of 93. He was a co-founder of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the first non-Congress Prime Minister to complete a full term in office (1999-2004).
Fadnavis, in a post on social media, remembered Vajpayee's 'good governance' and his efforts to build a strong and self-reliant India. Pawar, who served as Union Minister in Vajpayee's cabinet, recalled his 'statesmanship' and ability to build consensus across party lines.
Vajpayee's tenure is remembered for the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, the historic bus journey to Lahore in 1999, and the launch of the Golden Quadrilateral highway project. His poetry and oratory skills also left a lasting impact on Indian politics.
The tribute comes as leaders across the political spectrum remember Vajpayee's legacy of inclusive politics and his role in strengthening India's democratic fabric.
