Chouhan on Jaitley: Brightest sun of Indian politics has set

Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh with former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Pic/Shivraj Singh Chouhan Twitter

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said that the brightest sun of Indian politics has set with the demise of former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

"The brightest sun of Indian politics has set yesterday. He was BJP's strategist and creator of New India. He was an inspiration for several party workers like me. He was an able administrator along with being a great leader. His demise has created a void which will be impossible to fill in the coming days," Chouhan said.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan also shared an anecdote when he had gone to the former Union Minister to seek a solution for his problem. Jaitley not only solved the problem but also advised him from his past experience. Chouhan said, "Jaitley can never be forgotten."

Also Read: At equal ease with the elites and the common man

BJP leader Anurag Thakur also expressed his condolences on the demise of Arun Jaitley. "Arun Ji's door was open for everyone from all walks of society. He was a great advocate along with being a great person. It is not an end of a leader but the end of an institution. For me, it is a personal loss," he said.

In a series of tweets, Thakur said, "Sh Arun Jaitley Ji was a fatherly figure to me for over 2 decades. Today I have lost the voice that was my conscience, mentor and motivator. I held his hand as I entered public life and the shoulder I leaned on when in doubt; he taught me the greatest lessons in leadership and humility.

"I will treasure his early morning discussions and walks; his clarity of thought and hs depth of counsel within Parliament and outside. Jaitley Jis life transformed my life and his tenure as India's Law Minister, Leader of Opposition and Finance Minister is a great public service legacy."

Jaitley passed away in New Delhi on Saturday at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He was 66.

A four-time member of Rajya Sabha, he became a Cabinet minister in the government of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2000. He was Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from June 2009 to 2014. Jaitley was Finance and Corporate Affairs minister in the first term of Modi government and also held portfolios of Defence and Information and Broadcasting.

Also Read: Arun Jaitley: A political journey

Edited by mid-day online desk with inputs from PTI

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates