Atal Behari Vajpayee, a founder of the BJP, was a rightist by ideology, but at the same time, as a parliamentarian, minister and prime minister, he never stopped interacting with others. Whether he agreed with or not, he listened to all—that is why he was the right man in the wrong party.
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When it was being debated whether India should send troops to Iraq, Vajpayee wanted to consult Left parties. Harkishen Singh Surjeet, then CPI(M) general secretary, and A.B. Bardhan, former CPI general secretary, went to meet Vajpayee. Both felt India should not succumb to US pressure and Vajpayee said “alright”. The next day, a resolution was passed in Parliament. From Comrade Bardhan we learned that during their meeting, Vajpayee told them, “Zor se boliye, comrade! Idhar se...
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