Vajpayee's Aide Reveals BJP's 2002 Plan: Atal for President, Advani for PM

• Ashok Tandon's book 'Atal Smaran' claims BJP initially proposed Atal Bihari Vajpayee for President and L.K. Advani for PM in 2002.
• Vajpayee rejected the idea, fearing it would set a wrong precedent for Indian parliamentary democracy.
• Vajpayee then sought all-party consensus, announcing A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as NDA's presidential candidate to Sonia Gandhi, Pranab Mukherjee, and Dr. Manmohan Singh.
• Sonia Gandhi expressed surprise but eventually supported Kalam, who became the 11th President.
• The book also highlights the strong Atal-Advani bond and an anecdote of Sonia Gandhi's concern for Vajpayee during the 2001 Parliament attack.

Why It Matters: Vajpayee rejected a power swap, ensuring democratic precedent and consensus for Kalam's presidency.