Gloom falls on BJP Headquarters

New Delhi, May 3 (UNI) A photograph of Mr Pramod Mahajan who died at the Hinduja Hospital at Mumbai after struggling for life for almost 12 days has been placed at the BJP Headquarters for the party supporters and friends to pay their tribute, amid rendition of Gayatri Mantra.

BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra who was here, described Mr Mahajan as one of the pillars of the party and a grand spokesman. His death under tragic circumstances revived the memories of Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukerjee and RSS ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya who also died under tragic circumstances.

Mr Malhotra said that Mr Mahajan was not just popular within the BJP but also outside. His death is not only a loss to the party but to the entire country.

Party spokesman Ravi Shanker Prasad said Mr Mahajan was considered one of the four young probable PMs for the country, others being late Rajiv Gandhi, Madhav Rao Scindia and Mr Rajesh Pilot who all met untimely death.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also went to the BJP headquarters to pay tributes to Mr Mahajan.

Meanwhile, a large number of BJP supporters made a beeline to pay their homage to Mr Mahajan at the party Headquarters at 11 Ashoka Road which had been the workplace of Mr Mahajan for decades.

UNI MCN/KAS RP KN1747