Vajpayee drops a one-liner bomb on BJP

MUMBAI: Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s three-minute speech at Shivaji Park on Thursday was full of dramatic moments. His announcement that LK Advani and Pramod Mahajan are the BJP’s Ram and Laxman sparked a wave of controversy.

While Vajpayee’s speech was brief, the speculation it caused was anything but, with party workers wondering if his words were an indicator that Mahajan will be singled out for special things from amongst BJP’s generation next.

In another unexpected move, Vajpayee announced his retirement from electoral politics.

At Shivaji Park, the stage (designed by Bollywood art director Nitin Desai) was set for such dramatic announcements. The lotus-shaped stage unfolded petal by petal and the party leadership emerged seated at the centre. Bright saffron lotuses decorated the fence around the ground. Brilliant fireworks periodically punctuated speeches and the documentary on 25 years of the BJP.