A former member of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, he represented the Pahalgam constituency from 1967 to 1977.

He was also a two-time Rajya Sabha member.

Fotedar was political secretary to former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Rajiv Gandhi gave him dual responsibility by inducting him in his Cabinet as well.

Though he played an important role in installing PV Narasimha Rao as the Prime Minister after Rajiv Gandhi's death, the relations between the two soured after the demolition of the Babri Masjid on 6 December 1992.

Fotedar was born on 5 March 1931 at Matan in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir and passed away on 28 September 2017.

According to former Union Minister K Natwar Singh, Fotedar in his last days was bitter and disillusioned but remained a proud man.

For nearly a decade and a half, Fotedar was among the very few Congressmen who were in the know of what was going on in the Congress in Delhi and Congress ruled states. He was an accomplished trouble shooter. He knew who was saying what and to whom and where, Natwar Singh said.

"He was much feared by most of Congress leaders for several years. He had one loyalty—besides his family, to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty (an elected dynasty)."

Fotedar was in his heyday a very influential and powerful Congress figure, wholly trusted by Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, but not 100% by Sonia Gandhi, Natwar Singh claimed.

In the first picture, Fotedar is seen with former Prime Minister Chandrashekar and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and former Railways Minister Lalu Prasad.

In the second photo, he is seen greeting former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi sitting in the front row with other senior leaders.

In the third picture, Fotedar is having serious discussion with former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and former Union Minister Arjun Singh.

To be continued....