BJP patriarch L K Advani turns 86 today

NEW DELHI: BJP patriarch L K Advani, who turned 86 today, was greeted on his birthday by President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar, among others.

Modi, who is not on the best of terms with Advani of late, was the first to arrive at the residence of the senior BJP leader this morning to wish him.

Nitish Kumar called up Advani on the phone to wish him. Mukherjee, Ansari and Singh sent him bouquets and written messages on the occasion.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat also phoned him. BJP President Rajnath Singh and former party chief Nitin Gadkari met Advani soon after Modi.

Other prominent leaders who wished the BJP leader are Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. National Conference Chief and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah sent flowers to Advani.

A host of Delhi BJP leaders, who are busy campaigning for the ensuing Assembly elections, reached Advani's residence to wish him. These include V K Malhotra, Vijay Goel and Vijendra Gupta.

Deputy Leader of the BJP in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad, General Secretary (Organisation) Ram Lal and Murlidhar Rao met Advani and wished him.