Vajpayee Refused Presidency Before Kalam, BJP Wanted Advani as PM: Book Reveals

• Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee declined BJP's offer for President, preferring L.K. Advani as PM, according to Ashok Tandon's book "Atal Smaran".
• Vajpayee believed a popular PM becoming President by majority would set a wrong precedent for Indian parliamentary democracy.
• APJ Abdul Kalam was later chosen and elected as the 11th President in 2002 with bipartisan support.
• Vajpayee sought consensus, informing Sonia Gandhi, Pranab Mukherjee, and Dr. Manmohan Singh about Kalam's nomination.
• The book also details the strong partnership between Vajpayee and Advani, and a moment of mutual concern between Vajpayee and Sonia Gandhi during the 2001 Parliament attack.

Why It Matters: Ashok Tandon's book reveals Vajpayee's principled refusal of the presidency and his role in Kalam's selection.