New Delhi, August 7: Former Minister of External Affairs (MEA) and veteran BJP leader Sushma Swaraj died on Tuesday, August 6, after suffering a heart attack, said reports. The senior leader was admitted to AIIMS and was reported to be critical. However, moments later it was confirmed that Swaraj was no more. The leader was 67 years old and had a stellar political career which included many firsts. Sushma Swaraj Dies at AIIMS, Former External Affairs Minister Suffers Heart Attack.

Sushma Swaraj, who enjoyed considerable success as India's External Affairs Minister, her last major portfolio, served as the member of parliament for six terms. However, she had refused to fight the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections on the grounds of her ill-health.

Swaraj had a political career spanning decades. Below are the distinctions and a brief political profile of the departed leader.

1. Sushma Swaraj became the youngest cabinet minister in 1977 at the age of 25.

2. As the Information and Broadcasting minister in the 1996 Atal Bihari government that lasted only 13 days, it was her decision to live telecast the Lok Sabha debates, a revolutionary step.

3. Sushma Swaraj also served as the official spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as All India Secretary of the BJP. She was the first woman spokesperson of a national-level party

4. Sushma Swaraj became BJP's State President of Haryana in the year 1979, at the age of 27.

5. Swaraj holds the credit of being the first woman chief minister of Delhi. She achieved the distinction in October 1998.

6. Sushma Swaraj also became the first woman leader of Opposition in the Indian Parliament.

7. Sushma Swaraj was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Haryana in 1977.

8. Sushma Swaraj was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha in April, 1990.

9. Elected to 12th Lok Sabha for third term in the year 1998.

10. Sushma Swaraj became the Union Minister for External Affairs in the Narendra Modi government, in 2014.

Apart from these political milestones, Sushma Swaraj was known for her oratory skills. She also represented India on International forums a number of times and received the Outstanding Parliamentarian award, the only woman MP to win the coveted honour.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 07, 2019 12:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).