BJP Veteran Leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra Dies at 94, Remembered for Service

Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Leader and former Delhi unit President Vijay Kumar Malhotra passed away early Tuesday at the age of 94, succumbing to age-related ailments after a brief illness at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Malhotra, a five-time Member of Parliament and two-time MLA from Delhi, breathed his last around 6 AM, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering commitment to public service and the party's ideological foundations.

His demise was announced by Delhi BJP Chief Virendra Sachdeva, who described it as a profound loss for the organisation that Malhotra helped shape over decades. Tributes began pouring in from across the political spectrum, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing condolences on X, calling him a "tireless worker" whose simplicity inspired generations.

Malhotra's political journey spanned over six decades, beginning with the Bharatiya Jana Sangh—the precursor to the BJP—in the 1950s, where he emerged as a key organiser in Delhi's urban pockets. Born on December 3, 1931, in Lahore (now Pakistan), he migrated to India during Partition and immersed himself in student politics at Hindu College, Delhi University, earning a professorship in economics that earned him the moniker "Prof. Malhotra". As the inaugural president of the Delhi BJP in 1992, he played a pivotal role in expanding the party's footprint amid the capital's diverse electorate, notably during the 1990s when the BJP challenged Congress dominance.

Elected to the Lok Sabha from West Delhi in 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, and 1999, and to the Delhi Assembly from Najafgarh in 1977 and 1980, he also served as deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1999 to 2004. His tenure focused on education, urban development, and sports, including chairing the Indian Olympic Association's ad hoc committee in 2012.

The timing of Malhotra's passing added a poignant note, occurring just a day after Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the BJP's permanent Delhi headquarters at DDU Marg on Monday—an event Malhotra had long championed as a symbol of the party's growth in the national capital. Sachdeva highlighted this irony in his statement, noting Malhotra's "tireless" efforts since the Jana Sangh days to propagate the RSS-inspired ideology of cultural nationalism and selfless service.

"His life was an example of simplicity and dedication... a source of inspiration for all BJP workers," Sachdeva said, underscoring Malhotra's role in mentoring young leaders and fostering grassroots mobilisation. Colleagues recalled his affable demeanour and advocacy for Delhi's underprivileged, from slum redevelopment to vocational training programmes.

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Funeral arrangements were swiftly announced, with Malhotra's body to be placed at his official residence at 21 Gurdwara Rakabganj Road by 8:45 AM for party workers, family, and well-wishers to pay their respects. The last rites will be performed at the Nigambodh Ghat later in the day, attended by senior BJP figures including Union ministers and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

Flags at BJP offices flew at half-mast, and a condolence meeting is scheduled at the party headquarters. Malhotra is survived by his wife, two sons—one a former diplomat—and grandchildren. As condolences flood social media, his passing marks the end of an era for Delhi's BJP, where his blend of intellectual rigour and organisational acumen bridged the party's early struggles to its current stature.

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