Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani was admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi on Friday evening with a chest infection, hospital sources said. The 98-year-old leader was taken to the hospital at around 7.30 pm and placed under the care of the pulmonary department.
A team of doctors is monitoring his vitals and medical tests are underway, officials said. According to the hospital, Advani’s condition is currently stable and he is responding to treatment.
At 98, even a routine hospital visit attracts national attention, and news of Advani’s admission drew immediate reactions from leaders across party lines, reflecting the respect he commands in public life. Doctors are expected to keep him under observation until the infection subsides and his parameters remain steady across consecutive assessments.
Advani’s political journey is the stuff of legend within the Sangh Parivar.
Born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, Advani rose through the ranks of the Jan Sangh
This is not the first time the veteran leader has required hospital care in recent years. In May 2026, Advani was admitted for age-related complications and was discharged after a few days. In December 2024, he was kept in the ICU under a neurologist, with the hospital reporting gradual improvement by December 17, 2024.
Born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, Advani rose through the ranks of the Jan Sangh to become one of the most consequential figures in modern Indian politics. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004 and as Union Home Minister from 1998 to 2004 in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s NDA government.
He led the BJP as its president for three terms — 1986-90, 1993-98 and 2004-05 — steering the party through its formative years of expansion. In March 2024, he was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in recognition of his decades of service to public life.
Through his years at the helm, Advani shaped the BJP’s organisational culture and its national pitch, mentored a generation of leaders, and remained the party’s most recognisable face for much of its rise. Even after stepping back from active campaigning, his writings and rare public appearances have carried weight with party workers.
Hospital officials said further updates on his health will be shared as and when available, while his family has appealed for privacy during this period. Party sources said senior leaders are in touch with the hospital and the family, and are hopeful of a full recovery.
