B'day special: Sushma Swaraj “ BJP leader who threatened to tonsure her head if Sonia became PM

New Delhi, May 5: Sushma Swaraj is one of those politicians in this country who get emotional on issues and beliefs that are close to their heart. That was the reason why Sushma, after 2004 general elections, threatened to tonsure her head, don a white Saree, eat only grams and sleep on the floor if Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born Congress President, became the Prime Minister of India. Sushma could not accept a foreign born person taking over as the Prime Minister of India. It's a different matter that Sonia backed off and decided against occupying 7, Race Course Road as the PM of India. Otherwise, Sushma would have created a record for adopting perhaps the most weird way of protesting the ascendance of a political rival.Sushma with daughter Bansuri Sushma Swaraj is one of the main contenders from BJP for the top job in 2014 general elections. With excellent oratorical skills, she has created a niche for herself both inside and outside of parliament. Although Narendra Modi is presently leading the race for PM candidate, Sushma could well turn out to be the proverbial dark horse as Modi is facing stiff opposition from some of the major NDA constituents like JD(U) and Shiv Sena. Sushma at KumbhWhat boosts Sushma's chances is the fact that Bal Thackeray himself had pushed Sushma's case for the post of PM, when he was alive. Bal Thackeray had termed Sushma Swaraj as the most suitable BJP candidate for PM. As Sushma is known for making friends from across the political spectrum, even Nitish Kumar may not object to her candidature as, unlike Modi, she has always maintained a low profile that can help her win the race.Let's have a look at the life and political journey of Sushma Swaraj who could well turn out to be the next PM of India.Swaraj Kaushal, Sushma's husbandBorn on 14 February 1953 in Ambala Cantt, Sushma Swaraj has the distinction of becoming the youngest ever cabinet minister in India. She achieved this feat in 1977, when she joined the Devi Lal government in Haryana as a cabinet minister. At that time she was just 25 years old. She also has the distinction of becoming the first woman Chief Minister of Delhi.Sushma in NCC uniformSushma is a six terms Member of Parliament and presently she is the Leader of Opposition in present 15th Lok Sabha. She is also a former Chief Minister of Delhi as well as a former Union cabinet minister. She is also a former three times MLA. Sushma at RajghatSushma got her B.A degree with majors in Sanskrit and Political Science. She completed LL.B. from Punjab University and started her practice as an Advocate before Supreme Court of India in 1973. She started her political career as a student leader with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the 1970s.Sushma Swaraj was a prominent face in fight against emergency of 1975. She went on to become a member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly from 1977–82 and then again from 1987–90. She became a cabinet minister in the Janata Party Government headed by Devi Lal in 1977 at a young age of 25. She became State President of Janata Party (Haryana) in 1979 when she was only 27 years of age.Later on, she joined BJP and in April 1990, she was elected as a Member of Parliament and was in Rajya Sabha from 1990–96. In 1996, she was elected to the 11th Lok Sabha from South Delhi Parliamentary Constituency. Sushma and her daughter with Hillary ClintonShe was Union Cabinet Minister for Information and Broadcasting in the 13-day Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government in 1996. It was Sushma Swaraj who as Union Cabinet Minister for Information and Broadcasting started live telecast of Lok Sabha debates.Sushma with Bal ThackerayShe was re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha from South Delhi Parliamentary constituency for a second term in 1998. She was once again made the Union cabinet minister.Sushma with AmitabhIn October 1998, she resigned from the Union Cabinet to take over as the first woman Chief Minister of Delhi just before assembly elections. She returned to national politics after BJP lost the assembly elections because of rising prices and inflation. Sushma with Sonia and PranabThe BJP decided to field her against Sonia Gandhi from Bellary Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka, which had always returned Congress winners since India's independence. She gave a tough fight to Sonia although she lost the elections be mere 7 percent of votes. Sushma with Sonia and SheilaShe returned to Parliament in April 2000 as a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh. She was once again made a cabinet minister and she continued in that position until May 2004, when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government lost the general election.After 2004 elections, it was looking certain that Sonia Gandhi will become the Prime Minister of India and it was at that point of time that Sushma threatened to tonsure her head, don a white Saree, eat only grams and sleep on the floor if Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born Congress President, succeeded in becoming the Prime Minister of India.Swaraj was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha in April 2006 from Madhya Pradesh. She served as the Deputy leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha till April 2009.Sushma decided to contest 2009 Lok Sabha elections from Vidisha constituency in MP and won by over 4,00,000 votes. She became Leader of Opposition in the 15th Lok Sabha in place of Lal Krishna Advani on 21 December 2009 and she is still continuing in that position. Sushma married Swaraj Kaushal on 13 July 1975. Her husband Swaraj Kaushal is a Senior Advocate of Supreme Court of India and was Governor of Mizoram from 1990–1993. He also has the distinction becaming the youngest ever Governor in the country, at an age of 37. Swaraj Kaushal was also a Member of Parliament in from 1998–2004. Sushma and Swaraj are blessed with a daughter, Bansuri Swaraj who is a graduate from Oxford University. Sushma with Modi and RajnathSushma with Advani, Vajpayee and K R MalkaniSushma with Vajpayee and Khushwant SinghSushma standing behind VajpayeeSushma with Advani, Arun Jaitley and Nitin GadkariSushma Swaraj in happy moodSushma with Reddy brosSushma with Brinda KaratSushma with Hillary ClintonSushma with Pranab MukherjeeSushma with her daughterSushma with AdvaniSushma SwarajSushma swaraj in Lok Sabha