BJP leaders greet L.K. Advani, party's longest-serving President, on his 95th birthday

L.K. Advani was a founding member of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980 and was its face along with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for several decades

Rajnath Singh said L.K. Advani made a very important contribution to the country, society and the party and is counted among the country’s tallest personalities. | Photo Credit: Twitter /@rajnathsingh

BJP leaders on Tuesday greeted L.K. Advani, considered the architect of the party's rise as a major national force in the 90s, on his birthday.

Mr. Advani, the BJP's longest serving President, turned 95 on Tuesday.

Home Minister Amit Shah said Mr. Advani, with his relentless efforts, strengthened the party organisation across the country and also made invaluable contribution to the country's development while being part of the government.

आदरणीय लालकृष्ण आडवाणी जी को जन्मदिन की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं।

आडवाणी जी ने अपने सतत परिश्रम से एक ओर देशभर में संगठन को मजबूत किया तो वहीं दूसरी ओर सरकार में रहते हुए देश के विकास में अमूल्य योगदान दिया। ईश्वर से उनके उत्तम स्वास्थ्य व सुदीर्घ जीवन की कामना करता हूँ।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 8, 2022

Mr. Shah wished him good health and a long life.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari called Mr. Advani a source of inspiration.

भारतीय जनता पार्टी के वरिष्ठ नेता, हमारे प्रेरणास्रोत श्रद्धेय श्री लालकृष्ण आडवाणी जी को जन्मदिन की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। आप स्वस्थ और दीर्घायु रहें, ईश्वर से यही कामना करता हूं।

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) November 8, 2022

Another Union minister Rajnath Singh said Mr. Advani has made a very important contribution to the country, society and the party and is counted among the country's tallest personalities.

भारतीय जनता पार्टी के वरिष्ठ नेता, हमारे प्रेरणास्रोत श्रद्धेय श्री लालकृष्ण आडवाणी जी को जन्मदिन की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। आप स्वस्थ और दीर्घायु रहें, ईश्वर से यही कामना करता हूं।

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) November 8, 2022

Born in 1927 in Karachi, now part of Pakistan, Mr. Advani joined the RSS at a young age and later worked for Jana Sangh where he made a mark with his organisational abilities.

Mr. Advani was a founding member of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980 and was its face along with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for several decades. 

A keen strategist, Mr. Advani's 'Rath Yatra' in 1990 in support of building the Ram temple in Ayodhya at a site believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram is seen as an epochal turn in national politics, marking the unstoppable rise of the party to power.

While Vajpayee, the popular face of the party who enjoyed acceptability beyond its support base, became Prime Minister, Mr. Advani was Home Minister. Mr. Advani became deputy Prime Minister later.