Lal Krishna Advani, one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is among the key figures who helped transform the party into a major force in Indian politics. Born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, present-day Pakistan, Advani joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1942.
Advani played a central role in expanding the BJP's national footprint during the 1980s and 1990s. His 1990 Ram Rath Yatra, launched from Somnath in Gujarat towards Ayodhya, became a defining moment in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and Indian politics.
He served as BJP president for multiple terms and held key positions in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government, including Union home minister from 1998 to 2004 and deputy prime minister from 2002 to 2004. He later served as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2009.
In recognition of his public service, Advani was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 and the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 2024.
Prime Minister Modi wished BJP leader LK Advani on his 99th birthday, honouring his role from Partition to nation-building.
Addressing reporters during ongoing demonstrations, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asserted that the nationwide movement operates without a rigid plan, comparing the agitation to Lord Shiva's tandav. When asked about strategy following visits to Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Supreme Court, he stated that the movement requires spontaneous resistance rather than elaborate schemes, citing the Bharat Jodo Yatra where diverse sections of society walked together. He clarified that disparate agitations across India are unified, stating, 'The protest is to remove Gyanesh Kumar and then after that remove Mr Prime Minister.' Gandhi affirmed that his side will support and protect any civil society group defending the Constitution. Regarding communication with the Union government, he noted that intermediaries have approached associates around him, but reiterated that his stance remains transparent and expressed publicly on the streets. He also confirmed that evidence is being compiled to present before the President of India.
The Special Intensive Revision of Delhi's electoral rolls has placed over half of the national capital's voters under scrutiny. Out of a total of 1.45 crore voters, 47.5 lakh names have been deleted from the draft roll under the absent, shifted, dead, or duplicate categories. An additional 33.13 lakh electors have been flagged for discrepancies, comprising 19.33 lakh under logical discrepancies and 13.80 lakh not mapped with the 2002 electoral roll. Prominent personalities, including Union ministers, former chief ministers, senior bureaucrats, judges, and election officials, have received notices. The Election Commission clarified that receiving a notice does not signify immediate voter deletion or ineligibility, noting that electors have an opportunity to submit supporting documents for verification before electoral registration officers. The disposal of notices is scheduled for completion by October 29, ahead of the final electoral roll publication on November 4.
On India First with Gaurav Sawant, panellists debate major political rows surrounding national identity, secularism, and constitutional principles. The discussion examines the controversy over singing the national song, Vande Mataram, and the Karnataka legal dispute regarding legislative competence over limiting the song to two stanzas, with BJP national spokesperson Tuhin Sinha and Congress national spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa trading historical and political arguments alongside political analysts Shehzad Poonawalla and Rashid Kidwai. The broadcast also addresses the political fallout over remarks by former Vice President Hamid Ansari and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi concerning nationalism, religiosity, and Sharia courts. Panellists further analyse the ideological distinctions between Hinduism and Hindutva, the presence of religious figures in electoral politics, and allegations of minority appeasement versus secular governance under the Indian Constitution.
This report examines the escalating friction between four-time MP Shashi Tharoor and the Congress party leadership as Kerala prepares for the 2026 elections. The rift reportedly intensified following the Kochi Mahapanchayat, where sources claim 'protocol was breached, sitting was altered, speaker order changed at the last minute, and Rahul Gandhi did not publicly acknowledge Tharoor.' The tension is not isolated, following previous instances where Tharoor's comments on the Emergency and his praise for LK Advani forced the party to distance itself. As the Bharatiya Janata Party gains ground in urban Kerala, the Congress faces a dilemma over whether it can afford to sideline a prominent leader known as a 'global citizen.' The bulletin highlights that this internal conflict is no longer just about personal egos but has become a matter of electoral survival for the grand old party in a state where margins are critical.
This episode of Newstrack focusses on the deepening internal friction within the Congress party in Kerala ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
On this Special Report, Maria Shakeel examines the deepening internal friction within the Congress party in Kerala ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The focus is on Thiruvananthapuram MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor, who reportedly skipped a crucial strategy meeting attended by Rahul Gandhi. Maria Shakeel notes, 'Tharoor skipped the Congress High Command's Kerala strategy meet altogether, reportedly upset with both the party leadership over what is seen as lack of due respect by Rahul Gandhi.' The programme features veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, who downplays the rift, claiming Tharoor had prior commitments at a literary forum. However, the report highlights past instances where Tharoor’s praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and LK Advani caused friction with the party brass. The discussion, featuring Shehzad Poonawalla and Sanjay Jha, explores whether the Congress can afford to alienate a prominent face like Tharoor as the BJP gains ground in urban Kerala, particularly following their performance in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation elections.
In this intense debate, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla and Political Analyst Sanjay Jha discuss the reported rift between Shashi Tharoor and the Congress leadership. Poonawalla claims, 'Congress, and particularly Rahul Gandhi, can't stand anybody who puts nation first,' citing Tharoor's praise for LK Advani and India's foreign policy as reasons for his alleged sidelining. He further suggests a 'board of peace' be formed to manage internal Congress factions. Sanjay Jha defends Tharoor as an 'intellectual heavyweight' and 'outstanding speaker,' though he admits Tharoor is a 'distinctive outlier' who might be a misfit in any political party. The discussion also touches upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi's gesture of welcoming Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, which Poonawalla frames as a tradition of cooperative federalism. Jha acknowledges the Congress faces challenges and must avoid complacency in Kerala despite Tharoor's electoral strength.
This report examines the escalating internal friction within the Congress party in Kerala ahead of the 2026 elections. The rift centers on Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, who reportedly skipped a high-level meeting on Kerala election strategy. Sources suggest Tharoor is miffed with both the state leadership and the central High Command, particularly following a protocol breach at the Kochi Mahapanchayat where his seniority was allegedly ignored. The transcript notes that 'Shashi Tharoor will skip the high command's meeting on Kerala election strategy' as he reportedly gave precedence to a visit by the Prime Minister. This friction follows previous instances where Tharoor’s public stances, including praising LK Advani and calling the Emergency a 'dark chapter', diverged from the party line. As the BJP rises in urban Kerala, the Congress faces a dilemma over whether it can afford to sideline a leader popularly known as 'Vishwapuran' in a do-or-die electoral battle.
On this broadcast, India Today’s Legal Correspondent Aneesha Mathur details the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) urgent challenge in the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s sentence in the Unnao rape case. The CBI terms the order ‘legally unsustainable,’ arguing that the High Court fundamentally erred in ruling that an MLA is not a ‘public servant’ under the POCSO Act. Mathur notes the agency’s reliance on the ‘Sita Soren case of 2024’ and the LK Advani judgment to assert that legislators indeed hold a position of trust and authority. Anchor Sonal Mehrotra Kapoor also highlights the victim’s distress, noting that Sengar’s release poses a ‘real risk’ to her safety. The report underscores the CBI’s stance that long incarceration cannot be a ground for relief in such heinous crimes.
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh sparked a political row by praising the organisational strength of the BJP and RSS. Sharing a 1996 black-and-white photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh highlighted how grassroots workers rise to top posts in the Sangh parivar. While clarifying, 'I am a supporter of the organization, I am an opponent of RSS and Modi ji,' Singh urged the Congress to adopt a decentralised approach. The report by Mausmi Singh details the BJP's reaction and the internal Congress debate ahead of the CWC meeting.
This special report focuses on the political friction between senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and his party. The latest flashpoint is Tharoor's praise for BJP veteran L.K. Advani on his 98th birthday, calling him an 'exemplary statesman whose role in shaping modern India's trajectory was indelible'. The Congress party was quick to distance itself from the remarks, stating they were Tharoor's personal views. This provided an opening for the BJP to accuse the Congress of intolerance towards bipartisanship. The bulletin also touches upon Tharoor's independent stance on other issues, including US tariffs on Indian goods and the necessity for India to diversify its trade partners, noting the finalisation of a Free Trade Agreement with the UK.
This special report focuses on the political storm triggered by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's praise for BJP veteran L.K. Advani on his 98th birthday, a move that drew a sharp rebuke from his own party and criticism from leaders like Udit Raj. Congress leader Udit Raj slammed his party colleague Shashi Tharoor, calling him the ‘super spokesperson of the BJP’. The controversy erupted after Tharoor described Advani as an 'exemplary statesman', prompting the Congress to officially distance itself from the remarks, stating they were his personal views. This incident is the latest in a series of events where Tharoor has diverged from the party's official stance, including his recent criticisms of dynasty politics and the Emergency, and his backing of government bills opposed by the opposition. The BJP has seized on the moment, accusing the Congress party of intolerance.
A major controversy has erupted over Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's comments on veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani's political legacy. The row began after Tharoor posted a birthday wish for Advani, who turned 98 on November 8, 2025, calling him a 'true statesman'. In his social media post, Tharoor argued that Advani's 'role in shaping the trajectory of modern India are indelible' and that it is unfair to define his entire career by one movement. The remarks prompted a swift clarification from the Congress party, which publicly distanced itself from its MP's views. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera stated that Tharoor was speaking for himself and his views did not reflect the party's official stance, adding that this reflects the 'essential democratic and liberal spirit' of the Congress. The incident has highlighted internal friction within the party.
In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, RSS ideologue Seshadri Chari said that the BJP is not the political wing of RSS rather it is an independent organisation.
RSS ideologue S. Gurumurthy, in an exclusive interview with India Today TV, decoded PM Modi's praise for Mohan Bhagwat on his 75th birthday.
Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani was admitted to the AIIMS here late on Wednesday night, sources said. "He is stable and under observation," a source said. The 96-year-old former deputy prime minister has been admitted in the old private ward of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and is learnt to being treated by doctors from the Department of Urology. However, there was no immediate clarity on his ailment. In other news, three terrorists, suspected to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit, were killed in a gunfight that lasted for more than six hours in a forest area in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Wednesday, officials said. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu Zone, Anand Jain said the killing of the three terrorists, who had recently infiltrated from across the border, came as a big relief to people who were terrorised by their presence in an area that was long cleared of terrorism.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met veteran BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi at their residences in New Delhi on Friday, after being chosen as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday presented Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour, to BJP veteran and former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani at his residence in Delhi.
In an unprecedented move, a record five Bharat Ratnas have been announced for the year 2024.
