Lal Krishna Advani, the 96-year-old veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, has been admitted to Apollo Hospital in New Delhi. Hospital officials have confirmed that his condition is currently “stable,” and he is under observation. Advani is being treated by Dr. Vinit Suri, a senior consultant in the neurology department.
The former Deputy Prime Minister was brought to the hospital two days ago. This is not the first time Advani has been hospitalized at Apollo Hospital; he had a previous admission earlier this year. However, the reason for his most recent hospitalization has not been disclosed.
Advani’s Political Legacy
Born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, Advani’s political journey began early when he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the age of 14. Following the Partition in 1947, Advani and his family migrated to India.
In 1951, Advani became a member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), founded by Syama Prasad Mookerjee. He entered the Rajya Sabha in 1970 and, two years later, became the president of the party. During the 1975 Emergency, Advani and his colleague Atal Bihari Vajpayee were arrested for their opposition to the government.
When the Janata Party government led by Morarji Desai came to power in 1977, Advani was appointed as the Information and Broadcasting Minister. In 1980, Advani played a pivotal role in the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Advani is widely credited with transforming the BJP from a marginal party with just two seats in the 1984 general elections into a national political force by the 1990s. His leadership in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, advocating for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, played a significant role in the party’s rise to prominence.
Advani served as BJP president three times and held key positions in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government, including Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. In the 2009 general elections, Advani was named the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, although the party did not secure victory.
As he continues to receive medical care, his supporters and political leaders have expressed their well wishes for his speedy recovery.