Bharat Ratna for two former PMs P V Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and scientist M S Swaminathan

New Delhi, 9/2: Former Prime Ministers Charan Singh and P V Narasimha Rao as well as renowned agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan were chosen for Bharat Ratna on Friday, in what is seen as Narendra Modi government’s electoral messaging ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

The fresh set of awardees comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the country’s highest civilian award for former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, who rooted his politics in social justice plank, and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, who heralded the BJP into power through his contentious Rath Yatra.