Kumar Bahukhandi
Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, 98, in a file photograph. Advani was reportedly admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi on Friday, October 16, 2026, following pulmonary-related health concerns and is undergoing medical treatmen(File Image)
The 98-year-old former Deputy Prime Minister was reportedly admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital on Friday evening following respiratory-related health concerns; the hospital is expected to issue a statement on his condition.
Key Highlights
- Veteran BJP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, 98, has reportedly been hospitalised in New Delhi.
- He was admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Jasola Vihar at approximately 7.30 pm on Friday, October 16, 2026.
- Sources attributed his hospitalisation to pulmonary problems.
- The hospital confirmed that Advani was undergoing treatment, according to the initial report.
- A detailed medical statement concerning his condition was expected.
- Advani served as India’s Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004 and played a defining role in the BJP’s political expansion.
New Delhi: Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, one of the most influential figures in India’s contemporary political history, was admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in the national capital on Friday evening following reported pulmonary complications. The 98-year-old leader was taken to the hospital in Jasola Vihar at approximately 7.30 pm and is undergoing medical treatment, according to information attributed to hospital sources.
The development has drawn attention to the health of the senior statesman, whose decades-long political career has been closely associated with the rise of the BJP as a major national political force.
According to the initial report, the hospital indicated that a statement providing further details about Advani’s health would be issued shortly.
However, the exact nature of his pulmonary condition, the treatment being administered and the anticipated duration of hospitalisation have not been disclosed.
Hospitalisation Following Respiratory-Related Concerns
Advani’s admission reportedly followed health concerns involving his lungs or respiratory system.
The term pulmonary refers to conditions affecting the lungs and related respiratory functions. It does not, by itself, establish a particular diagnosis or indicate the severity of a patient’s condition.
Medical professionals at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital are attending to the former Deputy Prime Minister, according to the information available.
No confirmed medical bulletin detailing his present condition has been provided in the initial report.
Consequently, any assessment of the seriousness of his illness would be premature until an authorised medical statement is released.
A Political Career That Helped Transform the BJP
Lal Krishna Advani occupies a prominent position in the history of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, then part of undivided India, Advani became associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during his early years and subsequently entered national politics.
He emerged as a leading figure in the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and later became one of the principal architects of the BJP following its formation in 1980.
Advani served as BJP president on multiple occasions and played an important organisational and ideological role in expanding the party’s influence beyond its earlier political base.
His leadership contributed significantly to the BJP’s emergence as a major contender for national power.
From Party Organisation to National Leadership
Advani’s political journey included several important responsibilities in Parliament and the Union government.
He served as Union Home Minister in the government led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and subsequently held the office of Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004.
His tenure coincided with an important phase of coalition politics, during which the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance governed the country.
Advani was also a central figure in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, particularly through his 1990 Rath Yatra, which became a major turning point in the BJP’s political mobilisation.
His political legacy remains the subject of considerable historical and public debate, reflecting both his influence on the BJP’s development and the controversies associated with some of its major campaigns.
Bharat Ratna Recognition for Decades of Public Life
In 2024, Advani was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in recognition of his contribution to public life.
The honour marked an important milestone in a political career spanning several decades.
Despite having withdrawn from active electoral politics, Advani continues to occupy a significant place in the institutional history of the BJP and the broader evolution of Indian politics.
His association with the party’s formative years, its expansion across the country and its eventual emergence as a governing force remains an enduring aspect of his political career.
Further Medical Update Awaited
The hospital’s anticipated medical statement is expected to provide greater clarity about Advani’s health and the treatment being administered.
Until then, the information available establishes that the former Deputy Prime Minister was reportedly admitted with pulmonary concerns and was receiving treatment.
No additional conclusions concerning his prognosis or recovery should be drawn without an official medical update.
