Both Houses of Parliament were on Wednesday adjourned on the first day of the post-recess Budget Session, after paying homage to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pramod Mahajan.

In their obituary references, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat described the late BJP general secretary as an able parliamentarian, an impressive orator and an effective floor manager.

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As communications minister between 1999-2003, Mahajan was instrumental in initiating several steps for bringing the benefits of mobile telephony within the reach of the common man, they said.

He was known for his ability to carry with him friends and opponents alike. His tenure as parliamentary affairs minister will always be remembered for his competent handling of issues in the House, they said.

Mahajan, a sitting member of the Rajya Sabha and a member of the eleventh Lok Sabha, died on May 3 at the age of 57 after struggling for 12 days from gunshot wounds inflicted by his brother at his Mumbai residence.