Lucknow: Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of India’s most respected political figures, is remembered not just as a powerful leader but as a rare statesman who commanded unwavering admiration even from his opponents. On his 101st birth anniversary, political leaders and former rivals recalled how Vajpayee, despite decades in politics and three terms as Prime Minister, remained the “Ajatshatru” — the leader who had no enemies.
Vajpayee, who never joined the Congress yet became the first leader outside the party to complete a full five-year Prime Ministerial term, was widely acknowledged for his dignified politics, calm temperament and unmatched oratory. Many of his rivals admitted that contesting against him was more an honour than a challenge.
Samajwadi Party candidate and well-known Lucknow gynaecologist Dr Madhu Gupta, who contested against Vajpayee in 2004, recalled how even political battles maintained grace. “Atal ji was the Bhishma Pitamah of Indian politics. None of us used indecent language during the campaign because contesting against him commanded respect in itself,” she said. Vajpayee, who represented Lucknow in the Lok Sabha five consecutive times — in 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004 — enjoyed a popularity that transcended party boundaries.
Actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar, who contested against Vajpayee in 1996, said he knew the result much before polling day. “The moment my name was announced, I knew the outcome. Atal ji was a towering figure. We grew up listening to his speeches,” he said, adding that Vajpayee’s diction, pauses and powerful expression shaped his own debating skills. Babbar fondly remembered meeting Vajpayee on a flight, bowing to touch his feet and receiving his reassuring smile.
Many recalled how Vajpayee believed political rivalry did not mean hostility. Babbar shared that Vajpayee later praised his dignity during the campaign. Similarly, Ratnesh Gupta, son of former Lucknow mayor Dauji Gupta who contested against Vajpayee in 1998, said their families shared warmth even during elections. In one instance, when both leaders’ motorcades crossed paths, his father asked workers to let Vajpayee’s convoy pass first, a gesture Vajpayee later acknowledged jokingly while appreciating the respect.
Former Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma remembered Vajpayee’s simplicity and humility. He narrated how he once accidentally spilled kheer on Vajpayee, who merely smiled instead of reacting. “He was a leader who reshaped India and taught us that real power lies in kindness and strength of heart,” Sharma said.
Vajpayee served as Prime Minister briefly in 1996 for 13 days, again for 13 months between 1998 and 1999, and finally from 1999 to 2004, becoming the first non-Congress leader to complete a full term. His declining health after 2004 gradually distanced him from active politics, but his legacy only grew stronger.
For many, Vajpayee was not just a politician but a statesman — a leader remembered for his gentle personality, inclusive leadership and ability to treat even rivals with affection. As Lucknow and the nation remember him, the sentiment remains unanimous: Atal Bihari Vajpayee had opponents, but never enemies.