Lucknow News: Leaders of other parties including BJP have paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary on Wednesday. On this occasion, many programs have been organized in Atal’s parliamentary constituency, Lucknow.
Lucknow and Atal both remained in each other’s heart
Although Atal Bihari Vajpayee was popular all over the country, but he had a special relationship with Lucknow. Lucknow not only became his political workplace, but also remained very close to his heart. The people of Lucknow did the work of making him the Prime Minister by sending him to Parliament. Whenever Atal Vihari Vajpayee was made a guest in any program in Lucknow, his talk used to start from here that I was from Lucknow, I am and will always be from Lucknow. By saying this, he used to fix his role as a host instead of a guest.
It took time to win the trust of the people of Lucknow.
However, in the initial days of politics, Atal ji did not like the people of Lucknow. Regarding this, when he became a candidate for the Lok Sabha elections from here in 1991, he said, ‘What did you people think, if I will be left behind then it is not going to happen. Where can my mind find eternal happiness, Lucknow is my home. Can’t break the relationship with me so easily. My name is also Atal. Let’s see till when you will not make me MP. Atal MP was elected in this election.
After this, the love showered by the people of Lucknow on Atalji remained intact till the last moment. Atal Bihari Vajpayee contested the Lok Sabha elections for the first time in 1952 from Lucknow, but had to face defeat from the Congress candidate. After this, he also entered the field in 1962 but again he had to face defeat.
The winning streak started from the by-elections in Lucknow.
In 1957, the Jana Sangh fielded him from three Lok Sabha seats, Lucknow, Mathura and Balrampur. He lost the elections from Lucknow and Mathura, but Balrampur elected him as its MP. Once again in 1962, Atal ji tried his luck from Lucknow, but he again got defeated. But he was elected a member of the Rajya Sabha. In 1967, once again he contested the Lok Sabha elections from Lucknow, but this time also the people here rejected him. But later in the same year, in the by-election, he reached the Parliament by winning from Lucknow.
Left Vidisha Lok Sabha seat in 1991 and adopted Lucknow
In 1971, Atal Bihari Vajpayee contested from the Gwalior seat of Madhya Pradesh and won the Lok Sabha. He became a member of the Lok Sabha from Delhi in 1977 and 1980. In 1984, Atal ji contested again from Gwalior but Madhavrao Scindia of Congress defeated him. In 1991, Atal ji contested from Lucknow and Vidisha. He won from both the places but left the Vidisha seat and kept Lucknow with him. After this victory, his association with Lucknow remained till the last time.
Left Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat in 1996 and adopted Lucknow
In 1996, he contested elections from Lucknow and Gandhinagar simultaneously. He won from both the places, but retained the Lucknow seat. In 1998 and 1999 also he won the elections from Lucknow. In 2004 also he won the election from Lucknow. He became the Prime Minister thrice from 1996 to 2004. Every time Lucknow sent him to Parliament.
Used to be present in the programs of Lucknow
Be it the Chakallas program of Amrutlal Nagar or the celebration of Ram Navami. Atal Bihar Vajpayee was often seen in it. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who linked slums with development, never forgot the old city. He had a special relationship with old Lucknow.
Special relationship with Lucknow formed from the time of Jansangh
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who made Lucknow his work place since the time of Jana Sangh, had hideouts in the houses of many people in this city, where he often participated in discussions and programs. It never used to happen that Atal Bihar Vajpayee should come to Lucknow and not taste the food here. Different types of chaat were served to Atal ji among his close friends. At the same time, he liked the Malai Paan here very much. Malai paan was sent to Delhi from Ram Asare’s old sweet shop in Banwali Gali of Chowk.
When a broom was asked from the public for cleaning in the body elections
Atal Bihari Vajpayee had addressed the last election meeting in support of BJP candidates at Kapurthala intersection in Lucknow on 25 April 2007 and after that he had severed ties with Lucknow. He had said in the meeting regarding the municipal elections that the Rajpat has been given to the Congress, give us only the broom. He could not even come to Lucknow to cast his vote in the 2007 assembly elections. Vishnu Narayan Inter College on Naval Kishore Road was his polling station.
The political foundation laid by Atal is strong till today
Lucknow, the stronghold of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has not been able to be divided by any political party for more than 30 years. From Lok Sabha elections to Vidhansabha elections or municipal elections, BJP has been defeating its opponents election by election even today on the land prepared by Atal.
Political analysts say that the relationship established by Atal Bihari Vajpayee with Lucknow is the result that people remember him even today. Even today, the BJP is reaping the crop from the land prepared by them. With time, BJP has been getting stronger in Lucknow. In 2014, Rajnath Singh won from here and at present also he is MP from here.
Atal’s election journey in Lucknow was like this
Lucknow is still known as the workplace of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was elected MP from Lucknow five times. Before Atal, BJP never had any luck in Lucknow. It was considered a stronghold of the Congress. However, in the 1989 elections, Mandhata Singh of Janata Dal won by defeating Dauji.
Prior to this, Sheela Kaul of Congress was the MP from here in 1980 and 1984 elections. After Atal Bihari Vajpayee stepped down in 1991, the BJP continued to grow stronger. Atal Bihari Vajpayee himself kept breaking his own records. In 1991, where he won by 117303 votes, he broke his record in the 1996 elections. In this election, he defeated Samajwadi Party candidate Raj Babbar by 118671 votes. After this, in the elections of 1998, he won by defeating Muzaffar Ali of Samajwadi Party by more than 216000 votes.
In the 1999 elections, Dr. Karan Singh of Congress gave him a tough challenge. But, he also lost. Atal Bihari Vajpayee won this election by more than 130000 votes. Atal Bihari Vajpayee again broke all his own records in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. In this election, he defeated SP’s Madhu Gupta by more than 218000 votes.
Election after election BJP strengthened
The special thing is that BJP has been getting the benefit of Atal’s deep relationship with Lucknow not only in the Lok Sabha and Vidhansabha elections but also in the municipal elections till date. The seat of the Mayor of Lucknow has been held by the BJP for more than 25 years. Dr. SC Rai was elected mayor twice on BJP ticket from Lucknow. After that Dr. Dinesh Sharma won twice on BJP ticket with record votes. After this, in the year 2017 elections also, the BJP retained the mayor’s seat.
Then Dr. Samyukta Bhatia, who was considered weak in comparison to Dr. SC Rai and Dr. Dinesh Sharma, was also made the mayor by the people here. Samyukta Bhatia won by more than 171000 votes. After this, in 2023 BJP’s Sushma Kharwal won the post of Mayor of Lucknow.
Lalji Tandon registers victory in the name of Atal’s legacy
Talking about the Lok Sabha elections, after Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his close friend Lalji Tandon became an MP from Lucknow in 2009. Tandon took the stand of Atal and entered the field. The situation was not one-sided then. Against him, the Congress fielded Rita Bahuguna Joshi and the BSP fielded Akhilesh Das. Akhilesh Das had put all his efforts to win the election, however, even then, in the name of Atalji, Lalji Tandon won by about 41000 votes.
Rajnath Singh’s parliamentary constituency
After this, Rajnath Singh made Lucknow his parliamentary constituency and broke all records by winning the 2014 Lok Sabha seat. Rajnath Singh got 561106 votes in the 2014 election, his opponent Rita Bahuguna Joshi of Congress got only 288357 votes. Similarly, Rajnath Singh won by 272749 votes and proved that Atal’s stronghold has not become weak but has become stronger. After this, the process of BJP’s victory at Atal’s work place continued in 2019 as well. Then Rajnath Singh won by getting 633026 votes. SP’s Poonam Shatrughan Sinha got 285724 votes.