Later career

In December 2005, Vajpayee announced his retirement from active politics, declaring that he would not contest in the next general election. In a famous statement at the BJPs silver Jubilee rally at Mumbais historic Shivaji Park, Vajpayee announced that Henceforth, Lal Krishna Advani and Pramod Mahajan will be the Ram Laxman (the two godly brothers much revered and worshipped by Hindus) of the BJP.

Vajpayee was referred to as the Bhishma Pitamah of Indian Politics by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during his speech in the Rajya Sabha.Vajpayee was hospitalised at AIIMS for chest infection and fever on 6 February 2009. He was put on ventilator support as his condition worsened but he eventually recuperated and was later discharged.Unable to participate in the campaign for the 2009 general election due to his poor health, he wrote a letter urging voters to back the BJP. His protege Lalji Tandon was able to retain the Lucknow seat even though the NDA suffered electoral reverses all over the country. The tall apolitical image of Vajpayee was said to be the main reason behind Laljis success in Lucknow even though BJPs performance was poor elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh.