Centre celebrates Vajpayee's 90th birthday as 'Good Governance Day'

This year's birthday is very special for the ex-PM as the Centre on Wednesday announced the Bharat Ratna to be conferred on him.

Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian award. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recommended his name to the President along with late Indian educationist-politician and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malviya.

Vajpayee will be the first leader from the country’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to be given the highest civilian award.

To celebrate Vajpayee's birthday, Modi will be in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi where he will attend a number of programmes on the occasion.

"There is no bigger tribute to Atal ji than celebrating his birthday as 'Good Governance Day' & pledging to devote ourselves to this cause," Modi tweeted.

"Development & good governance are the only ways ahead. Together, let us make a positive impact in people's lives & create a developed India," he posted.

Modi also went to Vajpayee's  residence to wish him on his special day.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and senior BJP leader LK Advani will release a book titled 'Hamare Atal ji'.

The party has also made elaborate arrangements to celebrate Vajpayee's birthday.

On his birthday, Rajnath Singh greeted Vajpayee on Twitter by posting a message: "I wish health & Longevity to Sh. Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji on his 90th B’day today. He is an inspirational force for good governance in India."

Union Finance Minister and senior BJP leader  Arun Jaitley tweeted: "I wish health & Longevity to Sh. Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji on his 90th B’day today. He is an inspirational force for good governance in India."

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted; "We wish a long life and good health to Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ."

Union Minister For Human Resource Development Smirit Z Irani also wished the ex-PM on his birthday.

"Warm birthday wishes to our beloved Atal ji. Wishing him a very long and healthy life," Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also extended her wish on twitter: "Our inspiration & guide - Wishing Shri Atal Bihari ji a very happy birthday. Prayers for his long life & good health."

An Indian statesman, Vajpayee was the eleventh Prime Minister of India, first for 13 days in 1996 and then from 1998 to 2004.

A leader of the right-wing BJP, he is the first Prime Minister from outside the Indian National Congress party to serve a full five-year term.

A parliamentarian for over four decades, Vajpayee was elected to the Lok Sabha nine times, and twice to the Rajya Sabha.

He also served as the Member of Parliament for Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, until 2009, when he retired from active politics due to health concerns.

Vajpayee was one amongst the founder members of erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which he had also headed.

He was also the Minister of External Affairs in the cabinet of Morarji Desai. When Janata government collapsed, Vajpayee restarted the Jana Sangh as the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980.