Lal Krishna Advani, affectionately referred to as LK Advani, is widely acknowledged as one of the towering figures within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), credited with steering the party from obscurity to prominence. His historic Rath Yatra during the 1990s played a pivotal role in propelling the BJP onto the national political stage.
During his extensive tenure, Advani held the position of BJP President for the longest duration since its establishment in 1980. His parliamentary journey spanning nearly three decades saw him serve as both Home Minister and later as Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999-2004).
Born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, British India (now Pakistan), Advani's family migrated to India due to the Partition. After completing his education at DG National College in Hyderabad and Government Law College in Mumbai, he immersed himself in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), eventually assuming leadership responsibilities in Rajasthan in 1947.
Advani's involvement deepened when Syama Prasad Mookerjee founded the political arm of the RSS, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), in 1951. Advani served as Secretary of the Rajasthan unit until 1970 and also contributed as Assistant Editor to the political journal Organiser from 1960-1967.
Transitioning towards the heart of Indian politics, Advani joined the Delhi unit of the party post-1970. His tenure as a member of the Rajya Sabha extended from 1970 to 1989. He ascended to the presidency of the BJS until 1977, resigning upon his appointment as the Information and Broadcasting Minister in the Janata Party coalition.
Advani's ministerial stint was marked by significant reforms, including the abolition of press censorship and the repeal of anti-press legislation enacted during the Emergency. Post the disintegration of the Moraji Desai government and subsequent collapse of the BJS, Advani, alongside Atal Bihari Vajpayee, spearheaded the formation of the BJP in 1980.
To amplify the party's reach and promote its agenda, Advani embarked on a series of Rath Yatras across India during the 1990s. He secured a seat in the Lok Sabha representing Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in 1998. Advani held key ministerial roles, serving twice as Union Home Minister (1998 and 1999) before assuming the position of Deputy Prime Minister in 2002.
After the BJP's setback in the 2004 general elections, Advani assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He contested as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate in the 2009 general elections, subsequently resigning from his cabinet position following the party's defeat.
In a momentous announcement on February 3, 2024, the Narendra Modi-led government revealed its decision to confer the prestigious Bharat Ratna award upon LK Advani, acknowledging his significant contributions to Indian politics.
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