Vajpayee turns 88; PM, senior leaders greet him

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee turned 88 today and was greeted by a host of senior leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Singh went to the residence of the senior BJP leader and presented him a bouquet.

Vajpayee's birthday is being observed as good governance day by the BJP.

"Today is Atalji's birthday and we have decided to observe his birthday as good governance day. Because people still remember the good governance during Vajpyee-led NDA rule," BJP president Nitin Gadkari told reporters after meeting Vajpayee.

Senior BJP leader L K Advani followed by Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar Prasad and many others also visited Vajpayee's residence to greet him on his birthday.

"Greetings and well wishes are coming from all over the country for Atalji. He is the tallest leader of the BJP and is our source of inspiration. Though he is not able to work actively, his presence is still a source of inspiration for all party workers," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

Scores of BJP workers and supporters carrying bouquets had come to greet Vajpayee. Vajpayee has not been keeping well for sometime now and did not contest the 1999 Lok Sabha elections.

Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Karia Munda, Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi and BJP leader Najma Heptullah were among others who greeted Vajpayee.