How many times was Atal Bihari Vajpayee elected as a Member of Parliament during his political career?

Introduction / Context:
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one of the most prominent political leaders in independent India. He served as Prime Minister and was known for his long parliamentary career and powerful speeches. Exam questions often ask about numerical facts related to such leaders, including the number of times they were elected to Parliament. Knowing this detail helps you appreciate the length and continuity of his role in Indian politics.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question concerns Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his service as a Member of Parliament.
• The options list four possible numbers: 8, 10, 12, and 14.
• We assume knowledge drawn from biographies and standard general knowledge sources.

Concept / Approach:
Vajpayee represented various constituencies in the Lok Sabha over several decades and also served a term in the Rajya Sabha. When counting the number of times he was elected as a Member of Parliament in total, standard general knowledge references state that he was elected ten times. This includes multiple terms in the Lok Sabha and at least one term in the Rajya Sabha. The approach is to rely on these widely accepted references and select the option that matches this total.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remember that Vajpayee entered Parliament in the early years after independence and continued to win elections for many years. Step 2: Recall that he has been described in many sources as having been elected to Parliament ten times in total. Step 3: Examine the options and match this number with option B, which is 10. Step 4: Recognise that 8 would underestimate his long career, while 12 and 14 would exaggerate the number of terms beyond commonly cited figures. Step 5: Therefore, choose 10 as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by consulting reliable summaries of Vajpayee's political career, which often highlight his repeated election victories. These accounts typically state that he entered Parliament ten times, combining Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha service. The repetition of this number in multiple general knowledge resources makes it a stable fact for exam purposes.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, 8, is too low given his long presence in Parliament. Options C and D, 12 and 14, are higher than the well established total and do not align with standard biographical data. In objective exam questions, the intention is to test recognition of the commonly cited number, not speculative alternatives.

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to confuse the number of years served with the number of times elected. Another is to count only Lok Sabha terms and forget about service in the Rajya Sabha. Because Vajpayee had a very long and visible career, some candidates may overestimate the number of separate elections he won. Sticking to the carefully documented total of ten elections as Member of Parliament helps avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was elected as a Member of Parliament a total of 10 times during his political career.