Lucknow, Dec 25 (IANS) This Uttar Pradesh capital, once regarded as the political bastion of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Friday saw members of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrating the ailing leader’s 85th birthday Friday with prayers for his long life and feasts for the poor.
BJP cadres in Lucknow, which Vajpayee represented for five consecutive terms in the Lok Sabha, distributed fruits to patients in various hospitals and khichdi to the poor to mark their leader’s birthday, a party official said.

Vajpayee, who lives in Delhi, has not been seen in public for over a year.

“We are observing the birthday of our great leader in the same manner across Uttar Pradesh,” BJP spokesperson H.N. Dixit told reporters.

“To pray for the longevity of our beloved leader, we have also organised the recitation of Sunderakand at several temples in Lucknow,” he added.

At least 50 hoardings bearing massive pictures of Vajpayee were set up in several places in Lucknow. The hoardings read in Sanskrit: “May you live for 100 years.”

“The hoardings to greet Vajpayee were being put up till Thursday night,” said a party functionary.

BJP activists also lit earthen diyas at the Sandohan Devi Temple in Lucknow’s Chowk locality.