No alternative to Vajpayee: Tripura CM

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday termed former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's death a "great loss to the nation" and said "there is no alternative to him".

"I have closely seen him in Delhi. He dedicated his life for the cause of the nation. There is no alternative to him," said Deb, who was in Delhi for many years before becoming Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tripura Pradesh President in January 2016.

Deb, in his condolence message, said Vajpayee held a special place in his heart for the northeastern region.

"It was visible through various visionary measures which were undertaken during his tenure as the Prime Minister. He created an exclusive Department for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) that handled the matters pertaining to the development of the northeast," he said.

"It was his (Vajpayee) government which had ensured the formation of the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) to optimise the utilisation of the 10 per cent compulsory allocation of budgetary fund being done for the region."

Deb, who left for New Delhi on Thursday to attend the last rites on Friday, expressed his deep condolences on the death of former Prime Minister.

Vajpayee passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on Thursday afternoon after prolonged illness. He was 93.

--IANS

sc/pgh/vm