Nitish pays moving tribute to Vajpayee on his birth

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday paid a moving tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary and said the late leader would always be remembered for art of successfully running a coalition government.

Kmar said he relished memories of having worked with Vajpayee as a minister holding important portfolios like Railway, Agriculture and Surface Transport and fondly recalled the love he always showered on me, something I would never be able to forget.

Atal ji shall always be remembered for the role he played in national politics and the manner in which he upheld social harmony. I have personal regard for him. I have worked under his leadership as a ministerreceived his ashirwad (love and blessings), he told reporters on the sidelines of a function organized here on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Vajpayee who passed away in August this year.

The positive manner in which he dealt with his alliance partners is a memory to be cherished. Even the dignity with which he treated those in the opposition used to be a sight to behold, Kumar who heads the Janata Dal (United) said.

He earned respect from all segments of society. No other politician has been able to match his popularity in the recent past. We have decided to hold a state function every year in his memory. A statue of his will also be erected in Patna for which a proper spot will be identified, the Chief Minister added.

The function, held at the Sri Krishna Memorial Hall, was attended among others by Governor Lalji Tandon, Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, ministers Nand Kishore Yadav, Mangal Pandey and Vinod Narain Jha and a number of other members of the states bicameral legislature.