Veteran BJP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani was admitted to Apollo Hospital in New Delhi on Friday evening, October 16, with a chest infection. The 98-year-old leader was brought to the hospital at around 7:30 pm and is being treated in the pulmonary department. According to reports, his condition is stable.
The news drew immediate attention across political circles, given Advani's stature as one of the founding figures of the Bharatiya Janata Party and one of the most influential Indian politicians of the last half-century.
What We Know So Far
Advani was taken to Apollo Hospital after he developed a chest infection. Doctors in the hospital's pulmonary department are monitoring him. Reports on Friday night described his condition as stable. No detailed medical bulletin had been released at the time of writing, and the hospital and family have not shared further details publicly.
This is not the first time this year that Advani has needed hospital care. In May, he was admitted to the same Apollo Hospital for age-related ailments and was discharged after a few days of treatment.
Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Lal Krishna Advani |
| Age | 98 |
| Admitted on | Friday, October 16, 2026, around 7:30 pm |
| Hospital | Apollo Hospital, New Delhi |
| Reason | Chest infection |
| Department | Pulmonary |
| Condition | Stable, as per reports |
| Previous admission | May 2026, same hospital, age-related ailments |
A Recent Meeting With PM Modi
Just nine days before his admission, on October 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Advani at his residence in New Delhi. The Prime Minister sought his blessings as he completed 25 continuous years as head of a government, counting from October 7, 2001, when he first took charge as Chief Minister of Gujarat. Sharing the moment on X, Modi wrote that he met Advani Ji at his residence and sought his blessings.
The visit was widely seen as a gesture of respect for the leader who was, for decades, Modi's political mentor and one of the key architects of the BJP's rise.
Who Is LK Advani
Born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, in undivided India, Advani entered public life through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and later the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. When the BJP was founded in 1980, he was among its founding leaders along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Advani served as BJP president on more than one occasion and is credited with expanding the party from a small force in Parliament into a national alternative to the Congress. His Ram Rath Yatra in 1990, which began from Somnath in Gujarat, became one of the defining political mobilisations of that era.
In the Vajpayee-led NDA government, he served as Union Home Minister from 1998 to 2004 and as Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004. He also served as Leader of the Opposition and represented Gandhinagar in the Lok Sabha for several terms. In 2024, he was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in recognition of his contribution to public life.
Career Milestones
- 1980: Founding leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
- 1990: Led the Ram Rath Yatra from Somnath.
- 1998–2004: Union Home Minister.
- 2002–2004: Deputy Prime Minister of India.
- 2024: Conferred the Bharat Ratna.
Why This Matters
Advani has largely stayed away from active politics in recent years, but he remains a towering figure for BJP workers and a respected elder statesman across party lines. Leaders from various parties traditionally call on him on his birthday, and any news about his health is followed closely across the country.
He will turn 99 on November 8 this year. For many younger readers, Advani is a name from history books and old campaign footage, but his influence on the shape of Indian politics, from coalition-building in the 1990s to the BJP's organisational strength, is still felt today. That is why even a routine hospital visit by the nonagenarian leader is closely watched by supporters and rivals alike.
What Happens Next
Further updates are expected from the hospital or his family once doctors complete their assessment. Until an official bulletin is issued, readers should rely only on confirmed updates and avoid unverified claims circulating on social media. ViralDose will update this story as more information becomes available.
Comments (0)