Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin on Sunday, 8 November 2026, paid tribute to veteran leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani as the party patriarch entered his 100th year, calling the principle of 'Nation First' the defining thread of Advani's decades-long political journey. Addressing a birthday celebration at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Nabin said Advani's life and legacy continue to inspire generations of party workers across the country.

A Century of Public Life

Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra and Union Minister Piyush Goyal were also present at the event, alongside other senior party leaders. Nabin extended greetings on behalf of what he called 'the entire BJP family,' noting the significance of a leader who had witnessed and shaped Indian politics across seven decades.

'As he is entering the 100th year of his life, I extend heartfelt wishes to him on behalf of the entire BJP family on his birthday,' Nabin said at the event.

From Two Seats to National Dominance

Nabin recalled Advani's formative role in building the BJP from the ground up alongside former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, at a time when the party held only two parliamentary seats and its long-term viability was widely doubted. 'When people believed that the BJP had no political future, Atal Ji and Advani Ji remained determined to take the party forward, even with just two seats. Their commitment and vision helped expand the BJP to its present strength,' he said.

He noted that despite having contrasting personalities, Vajpayee and Advani shared a unified purpose — a model of collaboration that Nabin held up as an example for contemporary party workers of all backgrounds.

Partition, Emergency, and the Rath Yatra

Nabin drew attention to pivotal moments that shaped Advani's worldview. He recalled how Advani, who experienced the trauma of Partition, channelled that hardship into a lifelong commitment to national unity. 'He came out of the pain of Partition and moved forward with determination, placing the nation's progress above everything else,' Nabin said.

The BJP chief also highlighted Advani's resistance during the Emergency, saying he 'provided leadership and stood firmly for democratic values' at a time when those values were under acute threat. Nabin additionally referenced Advani's historic Rath Yatra and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, recalling the famous rallying cry 'Hum Mandir Wahi Banayenge' (We will build the temple at that very place) and noting that the Rath Yatra was stopped at Samastipur in Bihar. He also credited the contribution of kar sevaks and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in ultimately realising the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Lessons for Today's Leadership

Nabin acknowledged that he had not personally worked alongside Advani, but said accounts from those who had made clear the depth of his 'commitment and dedication.' He stressed that today's political class could draw from Advani's emphasis on political propriety, sensitivity, and integrity, as well as his ability to combine simplicity and humility with the resolve to take firm decisions when required.

'Even as Leader of the Opposition, he maintained that whenever it came to the national interest, the entire Opposition stood with the government. Today's leaders must learn from him that when it comes to the nation, everyone must stand united,' he said.

Nabin closed his address with a pledge that the BJP — under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and guided by the resolve of 'Nation First' — would continue to work towards the goal of a Viksit Bharat, carrying forward the ideals Advani had spent a lifetime championing.