Bhairon Singh : A deft politician with friends in all parties

Respected as an able officer Bhairon Singh Shekhawat enjoyed enviable reputation "Ajatshatru" - to have friends across the political field in his five decade-long political career.

The former vice president, who died here at age 87, was without doubt among the top three leaders of the BJP with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani, who bring him to the center as vice president in August 2002 after the BJP-led NDA power at the Centre . Known as "Bhairon Baba" among his admirer for his huge political skills, he was three times Chief Minister of Rajasthan, and led the opposition for several years in the desert condition.

During his long innings led Shekhawat January Sangh in the state and serve as national Vice-President of BJP. "Age is no bar for me," Shekhawat said when he was vice leader and had climbed the Eiffel Tower in an age of 83. The remark was important and gave a clear indication that he would run for President Township in India, the choice of which was in 2007.

When the journalists who follow him in Paris asked him if he planned to "conquer new heights," a euphemism for the Presidential race, Shekhawat had cryptically said: "Age is no bar for me."Please note showed his self-confidence, even if the odds were definitely against him. Shekhawat lost the last presidential race to Pratibha Patil.

2007 presidential election was a bitter affair with each side leveling charges and the charges, which wants to dig up past rival candidate and their families. Born 23 October 1923 in Khachariyawas, a small village in Sikar district, Shekhawat always credited his achievement to fate and the "magic of democratic system."

His father's early death has forced the school goes Shekhawat, the oldest among eight siblings, to complete investigation and to join the police to support the family. After he had risen to the position of assistant sub-inspector in 1948, Shekhawat decided to leave the police. Four years later, he successfully appealed his first collection option from Dantas-Ramgarh constituency of Rajasthan in January Sangh ticket.

Start a fiery legislator, Shekhawat gradually proved to be a redoubtable opposition leader and an able administrator, as Chief Minister. Shekhawat was the only member of the Rajasthan Assembly, having won in each meeting since elections in 1952 until he became Vice leader in 2002, except in 1972 when he missed from Gandhi Nagar in Jaipur. His other major election defeat was in 1971 when he contested the Lok Sabha Barmen in estimation polls.

Shekhawat was later elected to the Rajya Sabha from adjoining Madhya Pradesh in 1974. He enjoyed the honor of the location of three non-Congress governments in the state in 1977-1980, 1990-1992 and from 1993 to 1998. In 1980 and 1992, his government rejected by the Centre, before they can complete the period. In 1993, despite a slim majority BJP government headed by Shekhawat was able to absolute his term.

His time as Chief Minister in the desert state was characterize by pragmatism, as his government launch the ground-breaking policy. His invention - the Antyodaya to help the poorest of the poor, brought international gratitude for Shekhawat with the former World Bank chief Robert McNamara, who describes him as a Rockefeller India.