Lalji Tandon was Mayawati's Rakhibhai

-Mayawati's life was saved

-The guest house scandal in Uttar Pradesh is an incident of time

Lucknow Ta. 21 July 2020. Tuesday

Very few people will know that Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon, who died at Medanta Hospital in Lucknow at 5.30 am this morning at the age of 85, was BSP's Mayawati Rakhibhai.

This is the case when the BSP and BJP had a coalition government in Uttar Pradesh in the 1990s. Mayawati's life was in danger in the guest house scandal that took place at that time. If Lalji Tandon saved Mayawati's life, then Mayawati used to tie ashes to Lalji. The two had a close sibling relationship. Lalji Tandon was also instrumental in forming a BJP-BSP coalition government.

Originally, Lalji Tandon was an elected MP from Lucknow. When it was decided to make Narendra Modi, who has been the Chief Minister of Gujarat for two terms, the Prime Minister, Lalji Tandon was ready to vacate his seat for Modi in 20154. However, Modi then opted for the Varanasi seat instead of Lucknow and the seat vacated by Lalji Tand was contested by the present Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

Lalji Tandon had a close relationship with the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The two worked together for almost fifty years and Lalji Tandon repeatedly said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee is like my father and elder brother. Lalji Tandon used to take Vajpayee's blessings before starting any work. He was deeply shocked by Vajpayee's demise.

He had been in critical condition since June this year and was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Lucknow for treatment. He breathed his last at around 5.30 this morning.

Lalji Tandon's image was that of a bigoted politician. Mayawati was deeply saddened by her demise and said that Lalji Tandon was like my father. He saved my life.