Ex-BJP president Bangaru Laxman dies

Former BJP president Bangaru Laxman died of cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Hyderabad on Saturday evening. He was to turn 75 on 17 March. Laxman was not keeping well for some time because of a kidney ailment. A former Union minister, Laxman was caught on camera in 2001 while accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh in a sting, “Operation West End”, carried out by Tehelka.com, which had embarrassed the then National Democratic Alliance government. He had to quit his post subsequently. Laxman was left sulking as he felt that the leadership had given him a raw deal after the episode.

While speaking to this newspaper some two years ago, Laxman, who was sidelined by the party, had said he wanted to become active in mainstream politics. “I had told the leadership on many occasions to make use of my services better but that did not come through. The Tehelka scandal was a conspiracy against me as I belong to the Dalit community,” he had said.

He had also said that the party should have given him moral support after the exposé. In 2012, Laxman was convicted in the case by a Special CBI Court.

Born in a Dalit family in Andhra Pradesh, he joined politics at an early age and was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1996. He was also jailed during the Emergency in 1975. His wife, Susheela Laxman Bangaru was a BJP member in the 14th Lok Sabha and was elected from Jalore constituency in Rajasthan. He is survived by his wife, a son and three daughters.

BJP president Rajnath Singh and other party leaders have condoled the death of Laxman.