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In a solemn moment for Indian politics and the Bharatiya Janata Party, senior leader Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra passed away on 30 September at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. He was 93 years old. Prof. Malhotra had been under treatment at AIIMS for several days for age-related ailments.
Prof. Malhotra’s life in public service spanned more than six decades. He was a stalwart of the BJP and its predecessor, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
He served as a five-time Member of Parliament (MP) from Delhi and two-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). He held key party posts, including first president of the BJP’s Delhi unit. In the 2008 Delhi Assembly election, he was the BJP’s projected Chief Minister candidate.
In the 1999 general elections, he achieved one of his noted victories by defeating former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in South Delhi. He also contributed beyond electoral politics — in academics and sports administration. He was associated with the Archery Association of India and the All India Council of Sports, among other bodies.
Throughout his life, he was known for organisational skill, discipline, simplicity, commitment to party ideology, and commitment to public service.
The passing of Prof. Malhotra evoked deep sadness and an outpouring of tributes across party lines.Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi expressed grief on social media, calling him an “outstanding leader” with deep understanding of people’s concerns, and praised his role in strengthening the BJP in Delhi. In a posts on X, Shri Modi wrote:
“Penned my thoughts on Shri VK Malhotra Ji’s life, work and how he personified the best of our Party’s ethos. From politics and parliament to service and sports, he left behind an indelible impact.
BJP National President Shri J. P. Nadda termed his demise an irreparable loss to the party, recalling his simplicity, integrity, and steadfast guidance. Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh paid tributes, acknowledging his pivotal role in shaping the organisation from the era of Jana Sangh onward. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta called his death a deeply painful and irreparable loss, highlighting his life as a living example of patriotism, discipline, and organisational acumen.
Leaders and workers from the Delhi BJP, as well as political figures across states, joined in paying homage to him for his decades of service.
Prof. Malhotra’s last rites were conducted on October 1, 2025, at Lodhi Road Crematorium, New Delhi, with full state honours.
His body was kept at the Delhi BJP headquarters for public darshan, where thousands of BJP workers, officials, and citizens paid floral tributes.
The cremation ceremony included a ceremonial salute by Delhi Police and gunfire tribute, reflecting the esteem in which he was held.
His blend of scholarship, principled politics, organisational rigor, and ethical conduct remains a guiding example for many.