<h1>Chief Minister Pays Tribute To Former President: Celebrated Parliamentarian, Scholar And Statesman Who Strengthened Democracy</h1> A state chief minister paid tribute on the death anniversary of a former president, praising the deceased as an exceptional parliamentarian, scholar and statesman who devoted his life to strengthening the nation's democratic fabric and promoted the country's image. The former president, a Bharat Ratna awardee, had served over five decades in politics, held cabinet portfolios including foreign, defence, commerce and finance, was elected to the upper house five times beginning in 1969 and twice to the lower house from 2004, served on his party's highest policy body for 23 years, and died on August 31, 2020.