Senior BJP leader LK Advani remembered one of his “closest colleagues” Sushma Swaraj as he paid his respects to the former foreign minister after her sudden death. Swaraj, who was seen as Advani’s protégé, died on Tuesday night after a cardiac arrest in New Delhi. She was 67 years old.

The veteran leader recalled Sushma Swaraj’s “illustrious innings in the Bharatiya Janata Party” and said she had become a “role modelfor women leaders” - the youngest cabinet minister in the Haryana government,the first woman chief minister of Delhi and the first woman spokesperson for an ational political party in the country. “When I was the President of the BJPin the eighties, she was a promising young activist who I had inducted into myteam. And over the years, she became one of the most popular and prominent leaders of our party- in fact, a role model for women leaders,” Advani said inthe statement to condole her death.

The BJP patriarch also talked about “brilliant orator”Sushma Swaraj, whose effective public speeches have been praised by otherleaders such as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and others in their tributes.

“Sushmaji was also a fine human being. She touched everyonewith her warmth and compassionate nature. I do not recall a single year whenshe missed bringing my favourite chocolate cake to me on my birthday,” Advaniadded.