New Delhi [India], September 30: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bansuri Swaraj on Tuesday paid tribute to senior party leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra, describing him as one of the pillars of the BJP who nurtured and strengthened the party, and said that his demise is a loss that perhaps even time may never be able to compensate for fully.
After paying her last respects to the late leader at his residence in Delhi, Bansuri Swaraj said, "Vijay Kumar Malhotra was one of those pillars of the BJP who nurtured and fostered this party. His demise is a loss that perhaps even time will not be able to compensate for fully. He dedicated his entire life to the nation and public welfare. OM Shanti."
Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also condoled the death of senior BJP leader and BJP Delhi's first President Vijay Kumar Malhotra, praising his decades-long contribution and the "pivotal role" in shaping and expanding the Bharatiya Jana Sangh to the Janata Party and the BJP, as well as serving the people of Delhi.
"I am deeply grieved by the passing of BJP's senior leader Shri Vijay Kumar Malhotra ji, who played a pivotal role in shaping and expanding the organisation from the Bharatiya Jana Sangh to the Janata Party and the BJP," Shah said in a post on X.
https://x.com/AmitShah/status/1972864584693244314
Further, in his X post, Shah praised the first BJP Delhi president for serving the country and the people of Delhi in "every role", adding that in every meeting of theirs, Shah gained insights into many "intricate aspects" of their organisation.
"Whether as the President of Delhi BJP, the Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, or as a people's representative, Shri Vijay Kumar Malhotra ji served the country and the people of Delhi in every role. In every meeting with him, I gained insights into many intricate aspects related to the organisation. In this hour of grief, the entire BJP family stands with his family members. May God grant the departed soul a place at His divine feet. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti," the Home Minister said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mourned the loss of the BJP stalwart, saying he played a vital role in strengthening the party in the national capital and was known for his deep understanding of public issues.
"Shri Vijay Kumar Malhotra Ji distinguished himself as an outstanding leader, who had a very good understanding of people's issues. He played a vital role in strengthening our Party in Delhi. He is also remembered for his Parliamentary interventions. Pained by his passing away. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," PM Narendra Modi said in a post on X.
The Delhi unit of the BJP also expressed its grief through an official post on X, stating, "The news of the sudden demise of senior BJP leader and first president of the Delhi BJP, Professor Vijay Kumar Malhotra, is deeply saddening. The entire BJP family stands with his family in this hour of grief. May God grant peace to the departed soul. Om Shanti," the party said in a post on X.
According to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Malhotra, aged 93, passed away in New Delhi on the morning of September 30.
"Shri Vijay Kumar Malhotra Ji, a senior BJP leader aged 93 years, was admitted to AIIMS New Delhi, where he passed away in the morning of 30th September 2025," AIIMS said in an official statement. His mortal remains were brought to his residence.
Born on December 3, 1931, in Lahore, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistan), Malhotra was the fourth of seven children of Kaviraj Khazan Chand. A politician and sports administrator, he was elected President of the Delhi Pradesh Jana Sangh (1972-75) and later twice as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party Delhi Pradesh (1977-80, 1980-84).
Alongside leaders such as Kedar Nath Sahni and Madan Lal Khurana, Malhotra is credited with maintaining the BJP's strength in Delhi for decades.
His most notable political victory came in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, when he defeated former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by a large margin.
Over his career, he served as a five-time Member of Parliament and a two-time MLA from Delhi, becoming one of the senior-most BJP figures in the capital.
In the 2004 general election, Malhotra was the only BJP candidate to win a seat in Delhi.
According to the BJP, Malhotra enjoyed an unblemished and clean image throughout his distinguished career. An educationist with a doctorate in Hindi literature, Malhotra was also active in social work and the administration of sports bodies, including chess and archery clubs in Delhi.