L.K. Advani was born on 8 November 1927 in Karachi. At a very young age of fourteen, Advani dedicated himself to serve the nation by joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). In September 1947, he made his final exodus from Karachi amidst the tragic events surrounding India’s Partition. His political journey began in 1951, when Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee founded the Jana Sangh. The party’s ideologue and Chief Organiser, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, was a major influence on his ideology and idealism.

Advani was elected President of the Jana Sangh in 1973. He was incarcerated in jail for nineteen months during the Emergency, along with thousands of pro-democracy activists who fought under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan. He was the Information & Broadcasting Minister in the Janata Party government in 1977-79. He has also served as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the longest period since its inception in 1980. Advani was India’s Home Minister (1998-2004) and Deputy Prime Minister (2002-04) in the Vajpayee government. A Member of Parliament since 1970, and recepient of the ‘Award for Outstanding Parliamentarian’, he is currently Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

L.K. Advani is widely regarded as a national leader who combines intellectualism, integrity and mass appeal.

Advani has been chosen by the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as their prime ministerial candidate for the 2009 parliamentary elections.