Atal Bihari Vajpayee Death Anniversary: Know lesser-known facts about the former PM of India

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India, was one of the most loved Prime Ministers. He was a prominent leader of the country and the co-founder of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), earlier known as the Bhartiya Janata Sangh (BJS).

He was a member of the parliament for over five decades. He was also an active member of the Quit India Movement.

Here are some lesser known facts about Atal Bihari Vajpayee:

• Atal Bihari Vajpayee served 3 terms as the Prime Minister of India. First, for a period of 13 days in 1996, second for a term of 13 months from 1998 to 1999 and then for a full term from 1999 to 2004.

• In March 1997, he became the Minister of External Affairs.

• He was imprisoned for 23 days for his active participation in the Quit India Movement.

• He was a member of the parliament for 45 years and was elected 11 times from Lok Sabha and twice from Rajya Sabha.

• During his administration, India conducted a successful nuclear test at Pokhran, Rajasthan. The operation was named Shakti.

• He is the only leader to win six Lok Sabha constituencies from 4 states namely Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi , Madhya Pradesh and Gujrat.

• Vajpayee was keen on improving India's relationship with Pakistan and once travelled by bus to meet former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff.

• Vajpayee announced his retirement from politics in the end of 2005, due health concerns.

• He loved his work so much that he never got married.

  When asked in an interview the reason behind the same, he had said, ''I stay so busy that I forgot''

• In 2014, the administration of Narendra Modi declared that Vajpayee's birthday, December 25, will be observed as Good Governance Day.

• In 2015, he was honored with Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, by former President Pranab Mukherjee.

On August 16, 2018, Atal Bihari Vajpayee breathed his last due to health issues.