Atal Bihari Vajpayee Health: Shivraj Singh Chouhan left for Delhi to visit him in AIIMS Hospital.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan cancelled all his programmes scheduled for the day today to rush to New Delhi to enquire about the health of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is in a critical condition. "I pray to the Almighty for his speedy recovery. It pains me to hear about his health condition. I am leaving for Delhi," he told reporters in Bhopal. Mr Chouhan said Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been a true statesman and an inspiration to the party leaders.
"He is our idol. With just his presence we got inspiration and encouragement. We pray for his health. No one can ever be like Atal ji. Campaigning for him was an honour for me," the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said.
Mr Chouhan said he had come close to Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he fought the election from the Vidisha Lok Sabha in MP.
"I was then state president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. It was my responsibility to campaign for him (Vajpayee). After he left the seat, the party decided to field me," he said.
Mr Chouhan said when he won from the seat, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in a lighter vein, would call him "Vidisha pati", whenever he went to meet him.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was elected from the Vidisha Lok Sabha seat in 1991.
The 93-year-old leader was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on June 11 with a kidney tract infection, urinary tract infection, low urine output and chest congestion.
The BJP veteran's condition remains critical and he continues to be on advanced life-support system, AIIMS said in a statement today.
In view of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's health condition, Mr Chouhan cancelled all his engagements, including the 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' scheduled in Chhindwara district, to go to Delhi.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)