Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Atal Bihari Vajpayee , 1926-, Indian politician, prime minister of India (1996, 1998-2004). He began his career as a journalist, entering politics as an unsuccessful parliamentary candidate in 1950. He was (1951) a founding member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the Hindu nationalist precursor of the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). An able orator, Vajpayee won election to parliament in 1957; in 1975 he was imprisoned for opposing Prime Minister Indira Gandhi 's state of emergency. During the tenure (1977-79) of the coalition government that defeated Gandhi and her party, Vajpayee served as foreign minister and became the head (1979-86, 1992-) of the newly formed BJP. When the BJP won the largest number of parliamentary seats in 1996, Vajpayee became prime minister; failing to form a coalition, he resigned 13 days later. After the 1998 elections gave the BJP a greater representation in parliament, Vajpayee again became prime minister; he was returned to office in 1999. Vajpayee softened some of the more strident nationalist and anti-Muslim rhetoric of other BJP members and continued the free-market reforms begun by preceding governments. His government also strongly supported the development of India as a nuclear power; several nuclear tests were conducted in 1998. After the BJP's loss in the 2004 elections Vajpayee declined to serve as opposition leader. He has written a number of books, including collections of his speeches, a work on Indian foreign policy, and poetry.

Vajpayee, Shri Atal Bihari (b. 24 Dec. 1924). Prime Minister of India, 1996, 1998–  Born in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, he graduated in political science. In 1951 he co-founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, and in 1957 he entered the Lok Sabha (parliament). In 1977 he became a founding member of the Janata Party. In 1980 this became the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which opposed the secularism of the dominant Congress Party. In the 1980s the BJP benefited from the growing weakness of Congress, as well as the increasing religious nationalism through which many Indians came to express their national identity. Vajpayee was Foreign Minister 1977–9, and after the 1996 elections he was asked to form the government as leader of the strongest party. As Prime Minister he was unable to gather sufficient parliamentary support, however, and he was forced to resign after two weeks. The BJP emerged from the 1998 elections with a slightly increased majority, and proceeded to form a minority government under his leadership. His period in office has been marked by a surprising stability, and he was confirmed in office following early elections in 1999. His relationship with neighbouring Pakistan has been marked by repeated military posturing which oscillated with a willingness to negotiate over contentious issues, notably Kashmir. He was also faced with autonomist unrest in other areas of the country, notably in Assam and West Bengal.