CELEBRATING BJP'S ‘ARCHITECT OF POLITICAL RISE'!

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced the prestigious Bharat Ratna for BJP veteran LK Advani in recognition of his significant contributions to Indian politics. Advani, who served as the president of the BJP for the longest period, played a crucial role in building the party in the 90s and guiding it to power at the centre.

Under Advani's leadership, the BJP witnessed a remarkable rise from 2 Lok Sabha seats in 1984 to 85 seats in 1989 and then 120 in 1991. He served as the deputy PM in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government and held several important ministries.

Advani was one of the key architects of the Ram Mandir movement, and the announcement of the Bharat Ratna comes within a fortnight of the January 22 consecration ceremony of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Advani's Rath Yatra for the Ayodhya temple construction, starting on September 25, 1990, was a crucial turning point.