New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Padma Bhushan award to Sumitra Mahajan for public affairs.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker and BJP veteran Sumitra Mahajan, who was awarded the Padma Bhushan award for her long services in public life, on Wednesday said she has not retired from politics and will always remain a BJP worker. Mahajan was given a rousing welcome at the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar airport here where she landed after receiving the award in Delhi. BJP MP from Indore Shankar Lalwani, Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Minister Tulsiram Silavat and others were present on the occasion.
“Whatever work the BJP office-bearers ask me to do in the interest of the party, I will do that work,” he said. I will continue to work in the social sector as well,” Mahajan told reporters. Mahajan (78), popularly known as “Tai”, said lightly, ‘I have not retired from politics’, a wave of laughter ran in the audience.
Remembering late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mahajan said that he will remain a political worker, even if he does not hold any post.
She said, “Even today I am a political activist and will be forever.”
The former Lok Sabha Speaker said that he did politics in a normal but result-oriented manner due to which he was selected for a big award like Padma Bhushan.
Mahajan had won the Lok Sabha elections eight times from Indore from 1989 to 2014.
He had decided not to contest the 2019 elections because of the informal rule in BJP, which does not allow leaders above 75 years of age to contest.
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