AGRA: Former prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee , who passed away on Thursday, had a strong bond with the temple town, Mathura, even though he had lost his deposit in a Lok Sabha election that he contested from this seat in 1957 .In his political career, spanning 60 years, Vajpayee lost election only five times but perhaps his worst defeat was in Mathura. His deposit was forfeited when he had contested the elections against Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh (Independent).He had in fact in 1957 contested from three seats - Lucknow, Mathura and Balrampur and had reached the Lok Sabha by winning from the Balrampur Parliamentary constituency One of his old associates from Mathura, Banke Bihari Maheshwari , who is also a former Palika chairman, told TOI that though Vajpayee faced a humiliating defeat, it was all his own doing. He said that Vajpayee had then told people at his election rallies that they should vote for Raja Mahendra Pratap and not him. “His aim was not to win the election but to ensure the defeat of the Congress”, he said.He said, Atal jee was very close to the party workers in Mathura constituency and always kept in touch with them. “His defeat didn’t change anything, as he knew how to build a strong base. He respected others and that is the reason why everyone respected and loved him”, said Maheshwari.Former minister and the member of the National Executive Committee Ravikant Garg said that Atal ji was a person, who never had false egos or arrogance. He was a leader, who always remained connected to the workers."His death has taken away a great patriot, who had lots of love and affection for Mathura and its people. “Mathura will always miss him,” said Garg.He said when he was the PM, a tragedy occurred when his grand nephew, Manish Mishra, was killed after being thrown out of a running train, Chhattisgarh Express, near Kosi Kalan in Mathura district in the year 2004, after he had protested against eve teasing by a drunken youth on the train.Vajpayee did not attend the "at home" reception hosted by the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, at Rashtrapathi Bhawan on the occasion of Republic Day after receiving news of his grand nephew's death, Garg recalled.

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