LK Advani, 98, hospitalised with chest infection at Delhi's Apollo Hospital
Synopsis
At 98, LK Advani has been hospitalised at Delhi's Indraprastha Apollo Hospital with a chest infection — his third known hospitalisation in under two years. The former Deputy Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna recipient remains stable, but the recurring episodes underscore the fragile health of one of India's most consequential political figures.
Key Takeaways
LK Advani , 98 , was admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital , New Delhi, on 17 October 2026 with a chest infection.
He is admitted to the pulmonary department and is under observation; his condition is described as stable .
He was previously hospitalised at Apollo in May 2026 for age-related complications and in the ICU in December 2024 .
Advani served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004 and held the Home Affairs portfolio under PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 .
Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani was admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi on Friday, 17 October after being diagnosed with a chest infection. Hospital officials confirmed that the 98-year-old leader's condition is stable and that he is under observation by a team of doctors, with medical tests currently underway.
Advani was brought to the hospital at around 7.30 pm and admitted to the pulmonary department, according to hospital sources.
Recent Hospitalisation History
This is not the first time the veteran leader has required medical attention in recent months. He was previously admitted to Apollo Hospital in May 2026 due to age-related health complications and was discharged after a few days of care.
Earlier, in December 2024, Advani was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital for medical management and investigations, where he was treated under the supervision of a neurologist. By 17 December 2024, the hospital reported that he had shown gradual improvement and was likely to be shifted out of the ICU within one to two days. His repeated hospitalisations reflect the health challenges associated with his advanced age, and each episode has drawn national attention given his stature in Indian public life.
A Towering Figure in Indian Political History
Born on 8 November 1927 in Karachi (present-day Pakistan), Advani is among the most consequential figures in the BJP's rise from a marginal political force to one of India's dominant national parties. He served as BJP president on multiple occasions, building the party's organisational infrastructure across the country at a time when its electoral footprint was limited.
His landmark Ram Rath Yatra of 1990 reshaped the contours of Indian electoral politics, mobilising a mass movement that significantly expanded the BJP's political reach and altered the trajectory of communal and identity-based politics in the country. Scholars and political commentators continue to debate its long-term consequences for Indian democracy.
Key Roles in Government and Public Life
Advani served as India's Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004 under the government led by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He also held the critical Home Affairs portfolio during his career, overseeing matters of national security and internal administration.
In recognition of his decades of public service, Advani was conferred the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour — in 2024. He had previously received the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
Current Condition and What to Watch
As of Friday evening, Advani remains hospitalised in the pulmonary department, with his condition described as stable. No further bulletins have been issued by the hospital as yet. Given his age and recent pattern of hospitalisations, his health is expected to remain a matter of close public and political attention in the days ahead.
Point of View
A readmission in May 2026, and now a chest infection in October — follow a pattern that is increasingly difficult to separate from the broader question of how India manages the late-life health of its most senior political figures. His stature demands public transparency, yet hospital bulletins remain minimal and infrequent. At 98, every admission is consequential; the pulmonary system is particularly vulnerable at that age, and a chest infection that might be routine in a younger person carries heightened risk. The BJP has so far said little officially, which itself is a signal worth noting.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was LK Advani admitted to hospital on 17 October 2026?
LK Advani was admitted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi on 17 October 2026 with a chest infection. He was brought in at around 7.30 pm and admitted to the pulmonary department, where he is under observation by a team of doctors.
What is LK Advani's current health condition?
Hospital officials have described his condition as stable. Medical tests are underway and he remains under observation, but no critical developments have been reported as of Friday evening.
How many times has LK Advani been hospitalised recently?
This is at least the third known hospitalisation in under two years. He was admitted to the ICU at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in December 2024 and readmitted for age-related complications in May 2026 before the current admission.
What is LK Advani's political legacy?
Advani is one of the founding architects of the BJP's national rise. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004, held the Home Affairs portfolio, and led the Ram Rath Yatra of 1990, which reshaped Indian electoral politics. He received the Bharat Ratna in 2024.
How old is LK Advani?
LK Advani is 98 years old, born on 8 November 1927 in Karachi, in present-day Pakistan. He is among the oldest active senior figures in Indian political life.
