Bharat Ratna for farm icon, two former PMs

Former prime ministers PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and scientist MS Swaminathan will be posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. The timing of the announcement, months ahead of general elections, holds political significance. The awarding of Rao exploits the rift between him and the Gandhi family of the Congress party, while the award for Singh brings the BJP closer to his son Jayant Chaudhary, who has significant support in Uttar Pradesh. This is the fifth Bharat Ratna announced by the government in a single year.