Mamata Banerjee concerned over Vajpaiyee's deteriorating health

Banerjee was a cabinet minister in the NDA government led by Vajpayee and held the portfolio of the Union Railways Minister from October 1999 to March 2001 and then the Ministry of Mines from January to May 2004.

Concerned over the deteriorating

the health condition of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari

Vajpayee, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today

left for the national capital to inquire about his health.

"I had shared a very cordial relationship with

Atal-ji. I hold the highest regards for him. That is the reason I

have canceled all my programmes and going to New Delhi to see

him," Banerjee told reporters at the airport.

Banerjee was a cabinet minister in the NDA government

led by Vajpayee and held the portfolio of the Union Railways

Minister from October 1999 to March 2001 and then the Ministry

of Mines from January to May 2004.

In between, she was also a minister without portfolio

from March 2001 to January 2004.

Recalling her memories of working closely with

Vajpayee, Banerjee further added, "The pattern of Atal-ji's

work was quite different from the manner the current BJP

government functions. There is no similarity."

"We had provided them support from outside. We

(Trinamool Congress) were like a pillar to him," she added.

Remembering Vajpayee's visit to her Kalighat home to

meet her mother Gayatri Devi in July 2000 along with his

family, Banerjee said, "He had come to my residence and I am

grateful to him for that. Both families share a very cordial

relationship."

During the visit, Vajyapee had touched Gayatri Devi's

feet.

"She is scheduled to head straight to the AIIMS where

Atal-ji is undergoing treatment," a senior official of the

chief minister's office said.

Vajpayee continues to remain in a critical condition.

He is currently on life support.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)