NEW DELH: Commemorating the 5th death anniversary of the esteemed former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and leaders of the NDA paid their respects at the 'Sadaiv Atal' memorial. 

This solemn event saw the presence of notable figures including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Praful Patel, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Anupriya Patel, and Jitan Ram Manjhi, who offered floral tributes to the late BJP stalwart. Even Namita Kaul Bhattacharya, the foster daughter of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, paid her respects on this occasion.

Born in Gwalior in 1924, Atal Bihari Vajpayee stood as the prominent face of the BJP for decades, making history as the first non-Congress Prime Minister to complete a full term in office. He held the position of Prime Minister twice: from May 16, 1996, to June 1, 1996, and again from March 19, 1998, to May 22, 2004. Additionally, he played a key role as India's External Affairs Minister during the tenure of Prime Minister Morarji Desai from 1977 to 1979. His demise occurred on August 16, 2018, at AIIMS Hospital in Delhi.

In a tribute to his legacy, PM Modi declared December 25, Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birthdate, as Good Governance Day, an annual celebration initiated after assuming power in 2014. This step serves to honor the memory of the former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Death Anniversary: Remembering the Poet Prime Minister of India