Although BJP is rich, affluent party when it comes to human resources, honest, efficient leaders, no political party can withstand such triple losses as BJP has suffered recently. First to depart was popular and extremely efficient administrator, Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar, who was hand-picked by PM Modi to be Defence Minister at the Center.
When BJP failed to get absolute majority, the Goa coalition demanded return of Parrikar as CM, one condition for their support. But his tenure was short lived; he perished at the age of 63, a victim of dreadful cancer that deprives India of many aspiring politicians.
Next to go was equally popular Sushma Swaraj, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the last BJP government. The diplomatic Swaraj was as popular in foreign countries she visited, as she was in India. No wonder so many foreign dignitaries lined up to pay their last respect. She had recently kidney transplant, was in poor health and did not contest the last parliamentary election.
The last, to complete the trilogy was the sad loss of Arun Jaitley, a remarkable politician who once held duel post of Finance and Defence Ministers, both demanding portfolios even for this giant of an intellectual.
I remember his last visit to London when OFBJP held small gathering at Sangat Hall where he spoke so fluently and elegantly that he put other equally brilliant speakers like Shri CB, Barry Gardiner and Lord Popat in shade!
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
By email
