BJP’S AGED STATESMAN UNDER MEDICAL WATCH: L.K. ADVANI, 98, HOSPITALISED IN DELHI WITH CHEST INFECTION

October 17, 2026

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 17, 2026: Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, 98, was admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi on Friday evening after developing a chest infection. He is receiving treatment in the hospital’s pulmonary department and remains under observation by a team of doctors.

Advani was brought to the hospital at approximately 7.30 pm on October 16. Medical investigations are underway, while hospital officials have reported that his condition is stable. Further details about his recovery and the expected duration of his hospital stay have not been disclosed.

The latest hospitalisation comes several months after Advani was admitted to the same hospital in May 2026 for age-related health complications. He was discharged following treatment. His health has attracted public attention in recent years as the veteran politician has made fewer public appearances.

One of the most influential figures in the BJP’s political history, Advani played a central role in transforming the party into a major national political force. He served as BJP president on three occasions and was instrumental in expanding the organisation’s reach across India.

His 1990 Ram Rath Yatra became a defining episode in Indian politics, placing the Ram temple movement at the centre of national political debate and contributing significantly to the BJP’s subsequent electoral rise.

Advani served as Union Home Minister from 1998 to 2004 and as Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004 under the government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His political career spanned several decades of major changes in India’s party system and national governance.

In 2024, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in recognition of his contributions to public life.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Advani at his New Delhi residence on October 7, seeking his blessings and acknowledging his decades of public service.

For now, the immediate focus remains on Advani’s medical treatment and recovery. With his condition reported to be stable, doctors continue to monitor the 98-year-old leader as investigations and treatment proceed.