Lal Krishna Advani, senior leader and veteran of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Thursday. Doctors report that the 96-year-old politician is currently stable and under observation.

Advani, who recently received India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, from President Draupadi Murmu on March 30, 2024, has been a pivotal figure in Indian politics for decades.

Born in Karachi (now in Pakistan) on November 8, 1927, Advani's political journey began when he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a Swayamsevak in 1942. He went on to become one of the founding members of the BJP and served as its National President for the longest period since the party's inception in 1980.

During his illustrious career, Advani held several key positions in the government, including Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet from 1999 to 2004. He was also the Leader of the Opposition and the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for the 2009 general elections.

Advani's admission to AIIMS comes at a time when he is widely respected as an elder statesman of Indian politics. The BJP and well-wishers across the political spectrum are closely monitoring his health situation.