New Delhi|HL
A legend politician and BJP stalwart Sushma Swaraj, astute politician and one of India’s most popular leaders, passed away on Tuesday night after suffering a massive cardiac arrest at All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi.
Hearing the news of her death, politicians, actors, sportsmen, business leaders and other eminent personalities rush to the hospital and some took to social media platforms to pay tribute to her.
Sushma Swaraj’s health had deteriorated in recent months. She decided to discontinue as India’s External Affairs minister in the new Modi cabinet over health issues. Sushma Swaraj was known for being an easily accessible and approachable minister. She was frequently found helping Indians stranded abroad due to passport and visa issues. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called her the People’s Minister in his tribute.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj was known for her warmth that endeared her to even bitter political rivals. As the external affairs minister, Swaraj took foreign policy closer to the people through her innovative use of social media. A law graduate, Sushma Swaraj practiced in the Supreme Court and was elected seven times as a member of Parliament and three times as a member of the legislative assembly. She managed to break many a stereotype and rose to hold some of the highest offices in the country. As the country mourns her demise, we take a look at Swaraj’s political career.
Sushma Swaraj began her political career with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in the 1970s, organising protests against Indira Gandhi government. She began practicing as an advocate in the Supreme Court in 1973. In 1977, she became the youngest cabinet minister in Haryana at the age of 25 years when she was named the state education minister in 1987
In 1979, Sushma Swaraj became the Haryana unit president of Janata Party. She was just 27. Also, she became the first female spokesperson of a national political party in the country.Sushma Swaraj became the first woman Chief Minister of Delhi in 1998 and also first woman Chief Minister of BJP
