File photo of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
An array of political parties are lending unexpected support to the Bharatiya Janata Party's demand for the Bharat Ratna to be conferred on its iconic leader and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. (
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Among them is the BJP's newly-minted rival, Nitish Kumar, the Bihar Chief Minister. "I think Atalji should get it (the award)," he said today.
This is the first point of agreement between the BJP and him since June. That's when he ended their 17-year alliance over the BJP's decision to place his political rival Narendra Modi, the chief minister of Gujarat, in charge of its national campaign.
Mr Kumar's party, the Janata Dal United (JDU), was part of the coalition government led by Mr Vajpayee till 2004. Mr Kumar was part of the Cabinet; so was Sharad Yadav, the president of his party.
Also backing the BJP in its campaign for Mr Vajpayee's Bharat Ratna is union minister Farooq Abdullah, whose National Conference (NC) participates in the ruling coalition. "I appeal to the Government to give the Bharat Ratna now finally to Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji," said Mr Abdullah.
On Saturday evening, it was announced that cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Professor CNR Rao have been selected for the Bharat Ratna.
Senior BJP leaders including the presumptive prime minister Narendra Modi said the recognition was well-deserved. But some asked why Mr Vajpayee has been overlooked.
"I congratulate them. But today I am raising a question here that why Atal Bihari Vajpayee has not been awarded Bharat Ratna?" asked the party's Ravi Shankar Prasad.