Jaswant Singh
Major Jaswant Singh was an Indian Army officer and politician. He was one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and was one of India's longest serving parliamentarians, having been a member of the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha almost continuously between 1980 and 2014. He was NDA's Vice-presidential candidate in the 2012 Indian vice-presidential election. Singh was the only leader from Rajasthan who became Minister Of External Affairs, Finance and Defence.
He was elected on a BJP ticket to the Rajya Sabha five times and to the Lok Sabha four times. During the Vajpayee administration between 1998 and 2004, he held multiple cabinet portfolios including Finance, External Affairs and Defence. He also served as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission between 1998 and 1999. In the aftermath of India's nuclear tests of 1998, he was deputed by Prime Minister Vajpayee to act as India's representative to hold repeated, long-term dialogue with the United States on matters related to nuclear policy and strategy; the outcome of the sustained engagement was positive for both countries.
He was elected on a BJP ticket to the Rajya Sabha five times and to the Lok Sabha four times. During the Vajpayee administration between 1998 and 2004, he held multiple cabinet portfolios including Finance, External Affairs and Defence. He also served as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission between 1998 and 1999. In the aftermath of India's nuclear tests of 1998, he was deputed by Prime Minister Vajpayee to act as India's representative to hold repeated, long-term dialogue with the United States on matters related to nuclear policy and strategy; the outcome of the sustained engagement was positive for both countries.
