About
Bharat Ratna honored Lal Krishna Advani (born 8 November 1927) is an Indian politician who served as the 7th Deputy Prime Minister of India from 2002 to 2004. He co-founded the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu nationalist volunteer organisation. He is the longest-standing Minister of Home Affairs, serving from 1998 until 2004. In addition, he is the Lok Sabha’s longest-serving opposition leader. He was the BJP’s prime ministerial contender in the 2009 general election.
History
Advani was born in Karachi, moved to India after Partition, and eventually settled in Bombay, where he completed his academic studies. Advani joined the RSS in 1941 at the age of fourteen and worked as a pracharak in Rajasthan. Advani joined Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951, where he served as general secretary, president of the Delhi section, and in charge of legislative affairs. He was elected chairman of the First Delhi Metropolitan Council in 1967 and served until 1970, during which time he also joined the RSS national executive.
LK Advani: From grassroots to Deputy PM, a stalwart’s journey honored with Bharat Ratna.
Prime Minister Of India
How BJP got LK Advani?
He co-founded the BJP with Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1980 and has served as its president three times. He was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1989 and served seven terms. He has led the opposition in both houses. He served as minister of home affairs from 1998 to 2004 and deputy prime minister from 2002 to 2004. He served in the Indian parliament until 2019 and is credited with establishing the BJP as a major political party. In 2015, he received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian accolade, and in 2024, the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.
Political Career
Advani joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1941 at the age of fourteen. He became a pracharak (full-time worker) conducting shakhas before becoming the Karachi unit’s secretary in 1947.
Advani joined the Bhartiya Jana Sangh (BJS), a political party formed in 1951 by Syama Prasad Mookerjee in cooperation with the RSS. He was named secretary to S. S. Bhandari, the Jana Sangh’s then-general secretary in Rajasthan. He relocated to Delhi in 1957, when he served as general secretary and eventually president of the Jana Sangh’s Delhi section. From 1966 to 1967, he led the BJS in the Delhi Metropolitan Council (DMC).
Journey to Rajya Sabha
Advani was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Delhi in 1970 and served for six years. He was elected president of the BJS at the party working committee meeting in Kanpur in 1973.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won the 1998 general election, and Vajpayee was re-elected Prime Minister in March of that year. Advani was elected to the Lok Sabha for a third time and appointed Home Minister.
Bharat Ratna: A pride for Bharat
Veteran Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani will get the Bharat Ratna, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday.
Taking to X, PM Modi stated, “I am very pleased to announce that Shri LK Advani Ji will be awarded the Bharat Ratna. I also chatted with him and congratulated him on receiving this distinction. He is one of the most revered leaders of our time, and his contribution to India’s progress has been immense.
His life has progressed from grassroots effort to national service as our Deputy Prime Minister. He distinguished himself as both our Home Minister and Minister of Industry and Business. His parliamentary interventions have always been exceptional, filled with valuable insights. Bharat Ratna is the highest sign of pride which could be given to someone and LK Advani is one of those deserving candidates.
