Ahead of LS poll, flurry of Ratnas... for Rao, Charan Singh, Swaminathan

New Delhi: Former prime ministers P V Narasimha Rao, who is widely recognised for ushering in economic reforms in the 1990s, and Chaudhary Charan Singh, a champion of farmers' cause, and Green Revolution pioneer Dr M S Swaminathan will be conferred with the Bharat Ratna, it was announced on Friday.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, days after the Centre named former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur, a champion of backward empowerment, and L K Advani, a founding BJP member credited with charting the course of its rise through the 1990s, for Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour.

At five, one more than the four announced in 1999, this is the maximum number of Bharat Ratnas announced for a year.

Modi said Rao's visionary leadership was instrumental in making India economically advanced, laying a solid foundation for the country's prosperity and growth.

Rao, a Congress veteran, was prime minister from 1991 to 1996. He also said the dedication of Singh to farmers and commitment to democracy during the Emergency inspires the country.

Modi also said it is a matter of immense joy that his government is conferring the Bharat Ratna on Swaminathan in recognition of his monumental contributions to the nation in agriculture and farmers' welfare.

The honour for Swaminathan comes against the backdrop of protests by farmers in the NCR region and plans for similar stir in the coming days.

With national awards often conveying a message beyond the public contributions made by their recipients, the Modi government's pick of five of them--three of the four politicians in the list firmly belonging to the non-BJP sphere--for Bharat Ratna in an election year is no exception.

Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held in April-May. The government's move on Friday to recognise two stalwart politicians--Rao and Singh-who came from non-BJP backgrounds is resonant with political and social messaging.

It is expected to boost the BJP's efforts to present itself as a party which represents pan-India interests and aspirations and recognises leading people in different fields.

Rao's admirers have long argued that the Congress veteran has not been given his due by the party due to his less than warm relations with the NehruGandhi family, a point often made by BJP leaders too.

The honour for Charan Singh comes at a time when the RLD, led by his grandson Jayant Chaudhary, is believed to be in talks with the BJP for an alliance for the Lok Sabha polls.

Singh died in 1987. Chaudhary, who is the Rashtriya Lok Dal(RLD) president, said the Centre won his heart with the announcement of Bharat Ratna to his grandfather.

"Dil Jeet Liya," he posted on X. Asked about the Bharat Ratna announcements, specifically for Rao, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, in a brief response outside Parliament, said, "I welcome them... why not?" (PTI)