LK Advani turns 95 — glimpses from the morning’s celebrations & a look back at key moments

The BJP stalwart celebrated his birthday at home with family. The former party president has been present at key moments in the country's history.

Veteran leader L.K. Advani celebrates his birthday at his residence in New Delhi | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

New Delhi: Veteran politician L.K. Advani celebrated his 95th birthday Tuesday.

One of the co-founders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Advani played a crucial role in the party’s growth, and is best known for his rath yatra during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He held several posts in the Union cabinet over the course of his long career, including that of deputy prime minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 2002 to 2004.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with defence minister Rajnath Singh and BJP national general secretary B.L Santosh, visited the leader’s residence in the morning with flowers to felicitate him. Home minister Amit Shah and BJP president J.P. Nadda, meanwhile, tweeted their birthday wishes to Advani, who was also inundated with phone calls.

ThePrint’s national photo editor Praveen Jain visited Advani’s house on the occassion.

L.K. Advani’s daughter Pratibha Advani helps him attend to birthday wishes | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

L.K. Advani poses with his daughter Pratibha Advani in his house | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

L.K. Advani hold hands with his daughter Pratibha Advani | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

The Advani family poses for a portrait | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

BJP leaders Murli Manohar Joshi, Advani and Vijaya Raje Scindia (left to right), watching the Babri Masjid demolition on 6 December 1992 | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani outside Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1984 | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Advani hands over the nomination papers of vice-presidential candidate K.R. Narayanan in 1992 | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Advani attends an RSS function in New Delhi | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Senior BJP leaders, including Vajpayee, Advani and Modi, at a stop during the Ekta Yatra in Jammu in 1991. | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Advani and then PM Vajpayee at Advani’s house for gol gappas | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Vajpayee, NTR, V.P. Singh and Advani at a National Front party meet in 1988. | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Advani’s wife Kamala Advani hugs him at his residence as they celebrate the demolition of the Babri Masjid. PM Modi is also visible to the right. | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Advani blesses MP Pragya Singh Thakur after her victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha election | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Advani gives flowers to Modi after the party’s win in the 2019 Lok Sabha election | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Amit Shah congratulates Modi after the 2019 win | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint