New Delhi: Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, who was conferred Bharat Ratna on Wednesday, was one of the initial leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally recommended the names of former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pt Malviya to President Pranab Mukherkjee, as no formal recommendation for this is necessary.

Sources said, the final decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of the BJP’s core group late on Tuesday night, which was attended by Mr Modi besides party president Amit Shah, home minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.

Last year, when the UPA government had announced Bharat Ratna for former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and scientist C.N.R. Rao, BJP had criticised Congress for ignoring Mr Vajpayee’s contribution to the nation.