Advani describes Pramod Mahajan as role model for partymen

Mumbai, May 9 (UNI) Former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today described former BJP general secretary late Pramod Mahajan as a ''role model'' for party workers and a political manager who had several talents, including oratory and organisational skills.

''Pramod was exceptional and was standing head and shoulders above the rest in intelligence quotient,'' observed Mr Advani, while addressing the party's Maharashtra executive committee meeting organised to mourn the death of Mr Mahajan, who died on May three.

''It was Pramod's brainchild to do the Somnath temple to Ayodhya rath yatra in a vehicle,'' Mr Advani said, whose rath yatra brought BJP close to power in late 90s.

''I wanted to take out a padyatra from Somnath, but it was Pramod who came out with the idea of converting a vehicle into a rath,'' he said and added that he had exceptional inmgination skills and capacity to implement the same.

He said the leader had also suggested him recently to take out an ''aerial rath yatra'' in the North East region of the country.

He had a ''never say die'' attitude and was ready to accept any responsibility of the party.

On the occasion, he also remembered Bharatiya Jansangh founder President Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherjee and Deendayal Upadhyaya, who passed away at the age of 52.

''Elders feel bad when they have to mourn the death of their juniors,'' the 79-year-old leader observed.

He said apart from his contribution to the party, Mr Mahajan did an excellent job in developing the Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, the institution providing training to political workers.

The meeting was attended by nearly 400 exeutive committee members of the BJP, apart from Mr Mahajan's wife Rekha Mahajan, his son Rahul and son-in-law Anand Rao.

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