Vajpayee is the founder of the Bharatiya Janata Party and one of the architects of party's success.
His sincerity, humility and popularity, which extended across the political spectrum, made him prime minister in 1996. But he came to be known as the 'thirteen-day PM' after the BJP lost the vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha.
But his acceptability among political parties is precisely the reason why the 23-party National Democratic Alliance is well on its way to becoming the first coalition government to complete its full term in power.
Vajpayee spinning yarn during a visit to Sabarmati Ashram in 1996.