Bharat Ratnas: The break-up
Nearly half of the 43 Bharat Ratnas awarded so far have gone to political figures
Speculation is rife that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is in the running for the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.
The award to Vajpayee (if it happens) would be in keeping with the tradition of the Bharat Ratna going to a politician and denizen of Uttar Pradesh.
Nearly half of the 43 Bharat Ratnas awarded so far have gone to political figures.
If awarded, this will be the first Bharat Ratna to a political figure this century.
In last 13 years, only five awards have been handed out, and all to sportspersons, artists and scientists. It was a break from the 1990s, when nine out of 17 awards were given to political figures.
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