Organiser, seasoned parliamentarian, development man: BJP mourns the passing of Prof V K Malhotra, its tallest leader in Delhi

Prof. Malhotra’s passing, BJP leaders said, is not just the loss of a senior politician but of a generation that built the party from scratch in the Capital. From the early struggles of the Jana Sangh to the rise of the BJP, he remained a constant — organiser, parliamentarian.

A five-time MP and two-time MLA, Malhotra’s career stretched over 45 years, during which he became synonymous with the BJP’s presence in the Capital.

A founding figure of the party in Delhi, he was the first state president when the BJP was formed in 1980. He had earlier led the Delhi Pradesh Jana Sangh (1972–75) and went on to serve two more terms as Delhi BJP president.

He also held several years in the erstwhile Metropolitan Council of Delhi, serving as Chief Executive Councillor between 1967 and 1971 — a post that preceded the creation of the Delhi Legislative Assembly. During his tenure, he was credited with commissioning Delhi’s first flyover which connected Patel Nagar to Moti Nagar.

Just a day before his passing, at the inauguration of the BJP’s new headquarters on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recalled Malhotra’s contribution as Delhi BJP’s first president: “In 1980 when the BJP was formed, V K Malhotra ji had been made the first president — over time, the sacrifice of thousands of karyakartas has led to the party that it is today.”
Paying tribute on Monday, the Prime Minister said, “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.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described him as a “seasoned Parliamentarian widely respected for his knowledge of the Constitution,” while Home Minister Amit Shah recalled him as a leader who had “played a pivotal role in shaping and expanding the organisation from the Bharatiya Jana Sangh to the Janata Party and the BJP.”

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, in a condolence message, called him “an example of simplicity and dedication to public service,” adding that his life “has always inspired and will continue to inspire all BJP workers”.

Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal described him as Delhi’s “first development man,” who laid the foundation of modern infrastructure in the Capital.

Born on December 3, 1931, in Lahore, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Malhotra studied at DAV College, Lahore, before fleeing to Delhi after Partition. He completed his BA from Punjab University Camp College in 1949, his MA from Hansraj College in 1951, and earned a PhD in Hindi literature from Delhi University in 1986.

Before entering active politics, Malhotra worked briefly in journalism. Between 1950 and 1952, he was Deputy Editor of the daily Veer Arjun, where he met former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was then the paper’s editor.

Malhotra rose in the ranks of the Jana Sangh during the 1970s, becoming Delhi unit president at a time when the organisation faced intense political challenges. Alongside leaders like the first Delhi CM Madan Lal Khurana, he was credited with keeping the party afloat in the Capital. When the BJP was founded in 1980, he became its first Delhi president.

His electoral career was marked by longevity and several landmark victories — he represented Delhi five times in the Lok Sabha and twice in the Assembly. His most memorable win came in the 1999 general election, when he defeated former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by a huge margin. In the 2004 elections, he was the only BJP candidate to win a seat in Delhi.

Malhotra was projected as the party’s chief ministerial candidate in the 2008 Delhi Assembly elections. Although he retained his Greater Kailash seat, the BJP lost to the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress. Malhotra who was also occupying an MP seat at the time ended up resigning from Parliament to head the BJP as its Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly.

Apart from politics, Malhotra was also deeply involved in education and sports. He was an academic by training who taught Hindi literature and later became closely associated with sports administration. He served as president of the Archery Association of India, played a role in the Chess Federation, the Olympic association and later headed the All India Council of Sports.

As tributes poured in, one thing was clear: he was a leader with a lifelong commitment to the party he helped shape.

Delhi BJP’s organisational general secretary Pawan Rana said that Malhotra’s influence extended beyond the Capital, inspiring workers in states like Himachal Pradesh with his disciplined life.
His colleagues remembered him as someone who blended simplicity with political acumen. Home Minister Amit Shah stated that “in every meeting with him, I gained insights into many intricate aspects related to the organisation”.

From the homepage

Bihar SIR: Voter list shrinks by 6% after 3-month revision, about 68.5 lakh names deleted

Stalin’s caution in sparing Vijay backfires, actor issues challenge to CM: ‘Do whatever you want to do with me’

‘Had two options before me after winning elections…’: Omar says he would rather resign than get statehood with BJP as ally