Editing V. P. Singh

{{Short description|Prime Minister of India from 1989 to 1990<!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->}}
{{Distinguish|text= politician [[V. P. Singh Badnore]], Minister and former General [[V. K. Singh]], or hydrologist [[Vijay P. Singh]]}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = V. P. Singh
| image               = File:Visit of Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Indian Minister for Trade, to the CEC (cropped).jpg
| image_size          = 
| alt                 = V. P. Singh
| caption             = Singh, {{circa|1983}}
| office              = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Prime Minister of India]]
| president           = [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman]]
| vicepresident       = [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]
| term_start          = 2 December 1989
| term_end            = 10 November 1990
| deputy              = [[Devi Lal]] (until 1 August 1990)
| predecessor         = [[Rajiv Gandhi]]
| successor           = [[Chandra Shekhar]]
| office2             = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Minister of Defence (India)|Union Minister of Defence]]
| term_start2         = 2 December 1989
| term_end2           = 10 November 1990
| predecessor2        = [[K. C. Pant]]
| successor2          = Chandra Shekhar
| primeminister3      = Rajiv Gandhi
| term_start3         = 24 January 1987
| term_end3           = 12 April 1987
| predecessor3        = Rajiv Gandhi
| successor3          = K. C. Pant
| office4             = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Minister of Finance (India)|Union Minister of Finance]]
| primeminister4      = Rajiv Gandhi
| term_start4         = 31 December 1984
| term_end4           = 23 January 1987
| predecessor4        = [[Pranab Mukherjee]]
| successor4          = Rajiv Gandhi
| office6             = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[List of Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh|Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh]]
| governor6           = [[Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh]]
| term_start6         = 9 June 1980
| term_end6           = 19 July 1982
| predecessor6        = [[Banarsi Das]]
| successor6          = [[Sripati Mishra]]
| constituency6       = 
| office5             = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Leader of the House (Rajya Sabha)|Leader of the House, Rajya Sabha]]
| term_start5         = December 1984
| term_end5           = April 1987
| predecessor5        = Pranab Mukherjee
| successor5          = [[Narayan Datt Tiwari]]
| office7             = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Rajya Sabha]]
| term_start7         = 1983
| term_end7           = 1988
| constituency7       = [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh|Uttar Pradesh]]
| office9             = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| term_start9         = 1989
| term_end9           = 1996
| constituency9       = [[Fatehpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh]]
| predecessor9        = [[Hari Krishna Shastri]]
| successor9          = [[Vishambhar Prasad Nishad]]
| term_start10        = 1980
| term_end10          = 1980
| predecessor10       = [[Janeshwar Mishra]]
| successor10         = Krishna Prakash Tiwari
| constituency10      = [[Allahabad (Lok Sabha constituency)|Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh]]
| predecessor11       = [[Amitabh Bachchan]]
| successor11         = Janeshwar Mishra
| term_start11        = 1988
| term_end11          = 1989
| constituency11      = [[Allahabad (Lok Sabha constituency)|Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh]]
| constituency12      = [[Phulpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Phulpur, Uttar Pradesh]]
| predecessor12       = Janeshwar Mishra
| successor12         = [[Kamala Bahuguna]]
| term_start12        = 1971
| term_end12          = 1977
| office13            = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->President of [[Jan Morcha]]
| term13              = 1988
| predecessor13       = ''Position established''
| successor13         = [[Raj Babbar]]
| office15            = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->President of [[Janata Dal]]
| term15              = 1988 {{endash}} 1997
| predecessor15       = ''Position established''
| successor15         = [[Sharad Yadav]]
| preceded1           = 
| office1             = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Union Minister of External Affairs]]
| term_start1         = 2 December 1989
| term_end1           = 5 December 1989
| predecessor1        = [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]
| successor1          = [[Inder Kumar Gujral]]
| module              = {{Infobox pretender
| embed        = yes
| title        = [[Raja Bahadur]] of [[Manda (zamindari)|Manda]]
| throne       = [[Manda (zamindari)|Manda]]
| pretend from = 1971–2008
| year         = '''Sovereign Monarchy'''<br>1947 ([[Instrument of Accession]])<br>'''Titular Monarchy'''<br>1971 ([[Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of India|26th Amendment of the Indian Constitution]])
| king         = ''himself''
| relationship = 
| successor    = [[Ajeya Pratap Singh]]
| footnotes    = 
}}
{{Infobox royalty
| embed       = yes
| succession  = [[Raja Bahadur]] of [[Manda (zamindari)|Manda]]
| reign       = 1941–1947
| reign-type2 = Titular Reign
| reign2      = 1947–1971
| predecessor = Ram Gopal Singh
| house       = Gaharwal
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1931|06|25|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Allahabad]], [[United Provinces of British India|United Provinces]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br />(present-day Prayagraj, [[Uttar Pradesh]], India)
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2008|11|27|1931|06|25|df=y}}
| death_place         = [[New Delhi]], [[Delhi]], India
| spouse              = {{married|Sita Kumari|25 June 1955}}<ref>{{cite news|title=VP Singh's wife to get Rs 1 lakh for defamation|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/VP-Singhs-wife-to-get-Rs-1-lakh-for-defamation/articleshow/16759539.cms|access-date=9 January 2016|agency=The Times of India}}</ref>
| religion    = [[Hinduism]]
|module       = {{Infobox person 
| embed=yes
|children = 2, including [[Ajeya Pratap Singh]]
|alma_mater          = [[Allahabad University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[LL.B.]])<br />[[University of Pune]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
|party               = [[Indian National Congress]] (1969–1987)<br />[[Janata Dal]] (1988–1999)<br />[[Jan Morcha]] (1987–1988, 2006–2008)
| signature   = Vishwanath Pratap Singh Signature.svg}}
}}
| primeminister2      = ''Himself''
| primeminister1      = ''Himself''
| order               = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->
| order2              = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->
| order1              = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->
}}
'''Vishwanath Pratap Singh''' (25 June 1931 – 27 November 2008) was an Indian politician who served as the<!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] --> [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister of India]] from 1989 to 1990 and the [[Raja Bahadur]] of [[Manda (zamindari)|Manda]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rathore|first=Abhinay|title=Manda (Zamindari)|url=https://www.indianrajputs.com/view/manda|access-date=2021-11-19|website=Rajput Provinces of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-01|title=List of all Prime Ministers of India (1947-2021)|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/list-of-all-prime-ministers-of-india-1473165149-1|access-date=2021-11-19|website=www.jagranjosh.com}}</ref> 

He was educated at [[Allahabad University]] and [[Fergusson College]] in Pune.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pandya |first=Haresh |date=2008-11-30 |title=V. P. Singh, a Leader of India Who Defended Poor, Dies at 77 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/world/asia/30singh.html |access-date=2022-05-06 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>  In 1969, he joined the [[Indian National Congress]] party and was elected as a member of the [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pandya|first=Haresh|date=2008-11-30|title=V. P. Singh, a Leader of India Who Defended Poor, Dies at 77|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/world/asia/30singh.html|access-date=2021-11-19|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> 

In the [[First Rajiv Gandhi ministry|Rajiv Gandhi ministry]], Singh was given various cabinet posts, including [[Minister of Finance (India)|Minister of Finance]] and [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]]. Singh was also the [[Leader of the House (Rajya Sabha)|Leader of the Rajya Sabha]] from 1984 to 1987. During his tenure as Minister of Defence, the [[Bofors scandal]] came to light, and Singh resigned from the ministry. In 1988, he formed the [[Janata Dal]] party by merging various factions of the [[Janata Party]]. In the [[1989 Indian general election|1989 elections]], the [[Third Front (India)|National Front]], with the support of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP), formed the government and Singh became the prime minister.

During his tenure as prime minister, he implemented the [[Mandal Commission]] report for India's [[Other Backward Class|backward castes]], which led to major [[Mandal Commission protests of 1990|protests]] against the act. He also created the [[Sixty-second Amendment of the Constitution of India|Sixty-second Amendment]] and enacted the [[Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989|Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Act]] in 1989. In 1990 the [[exodus of Kashmiri Hindus]] happened from the valley of [[Kashmir Valley|Kashmir]]. Following his opposition to the [[Ram Rath Yatra]], the BJP withdrew its support for the National Front, and his government lost the [[Motion of no confidence|vote of no-confidence]]. Singh resigned on 7 November 1990. His prime ministerial tenure lasted for 343 days.

Singh was the prime ministerial candidate for the [[Third Front (India)|National Front]] in the [[1991 Indian general election|1991 elections]], but was defeated. He spoke out against the [[Demolition of the Babri Masjid|Babri Masjid demolition]] in 1992. He turned down prime ministership after the [[1996 Indian general election]] even through he was the first choice and relinquished the prime ministership to [[H. D. Deve Gowda]].<ref name="m959">{{cite web | last=Mukerji | first=Debashish | title=Before Deve Gowda, VP Singh was asked to be PM of United Front. He hid in his flat, car | website=ThePrint | date=8 December 2021 | url=https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/before-deve-gowda-vp-singh-was-asked-to-be-pm-of-united-front-he-hid-in-his-flat-car/777894/ | access-date=29 June 2024}}</ref><ref name="w849">{{cite web | last=Srinivasaraju | first=Sugata | title=Deve Gowda and the accidental prime ministers | website=The New Indian Express | date=5 June 2021 | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2021/Jun/05/devegowda-and-the-accidental-prime-ministers-2311864.html | access-date=29 June 2024}}</ref> After 1996, Singh retired from political posts, but continued to remain a public figure and political critic. He was diagnosed with [[multiple myeloma]] in 1998, and ceased public appearances until the cancer went into remission in 2003. He died from complications of multiple myeloma and kidney failure in 2008. He was cremated with full state honours.

==Early life and education==
Singh was born on 25 June 1931,<ref name="NYT Obituary">{{cite news|last=Pandya|first=Haresh|date=29 November 2008|title=V. P. Singh, a leader of India who defended poor, dies at 77|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/world/asia/30singh.html?pagewanted=print|url-status=live|access-date=14 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201125115/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/world/asia/30singh.html?pagewanted=print|archive-date=2019-12-01}}</ref> the third child of the [[Hindu]] [[Rajput]] ''[[Zamindar]]'' family<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kumar|first=Ashwani|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=num2I4NFGqIC&pg=PA76|title=Community Warriors: State, Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar|date=2008|publisher=Anthem Press|isbn=978-1-84331-709-8|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=num2I4NFGqIC&dq=V+P+Singh+an+upper+caste+Rajput+Ashwani+Kumar&pg=PA75 75–76]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ghai|first=Rajat|date=7 May 2014|title=The office of Prime Minister: A largely north Indian upper-caste, Hindu affair|work=Business Standard India|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/the-office-of-prime-minister-a-largely-north-indian-upper-caste-hindu-affair-114050700846_1.html|url-status=live|access-date=19 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619200229/http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/the-office-of-prime-minister-a-largely-north-indian-upper-caste-hindu-affair-114050700846_1.html|archive-date=19 June 2017}}</ref> of Daiya, which is located on the banks of the [[Belan River]] in the [[Allahabad district]]. He was adopted by Raja Bahadur Ram Gopal Singh of [[Manda (zamindari)|Manda]] and became the heir-apparent. He became the [[Raja Bahadur]] of [[Manda (zamindari)|Manda]] at the age of 10 in 1941.<ref>{{cite web|date=27 June 2017|title=Remembering VP Singh on his 86th birthday: A grandson reminds us why India needs its political Siddharth|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/remembering-vp-singh-on-his-86th-birthday-a-grandson-reminds-us-why-india-needs-its-political-siddharth-3749797.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630022131/https://www.firstpost.com/politics/remembering-vp-singh-on-his-86th-birthday-a-grandson-reminds-us-why-india-needs-its-political-siddharth-3749797.html|archive-date=2019-06-30|access-date=18 January 2019|work=Firstpost}}</ref> His ancestors were rulers of the predecessor state of [[Manikpur, Uttar Pradesh|Manikpur]], founded in 1180 by Raja Manik Chand, brother of [[Jayachandra|Raja Jai Chand]] of [[Kannauj]].{{Efn|The predecessor state of Manikpur was founded in 1180, by Raja Manik Chand, brother of Raja Jai Chand of Kannauj. Raja Gudan Deo, 16th in descent from Raja Manik Chand, established his capital at Manda in 1542. Raja Ram Pratap Singh was granted the hereditary title of Raja Bahadur by the British Raj in January 1913. The Last Raj Bahadur of Manda, Ram Gopal Singh, adopted a son named Vishwanath Pratap Singh, who became the 7th Prime Minister of India.<ref>{{cite book |author=D. C. Sircar |author-link=Dineschandra Sircar |title=Indian Epigraphical Glossary |url=https://archive.org/details/indianepigraphic00sircuoft |page=[https://archive.org/details/indianepigraphic00sircuoft/page/35 35] |year=1966 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=978-81-208-0562-0}}</ref>|name=|group=upper-alpha}} His family belonged to the Gaharwal clan of the [[Manda (zamindari)|Manda]] [[Zamindar]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=A MORAL MAN, A FAILURE – Not good in politics, V.P. Singh's success lay elsewhere|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/a-moral-man-a-failure-not-good-in-politics-v-p-singh-s-success-lay-elsewhere/cid/520765|access-date=2020-10-29|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref>

He obtained his education from [[Colonel Brown Cambridge School]], [[Dehradun]], and got his Bachelor of Arts and [[Bachelor of Laws|Law]] degree from [[Allahabad University]]. He was elected the vice president of [[Allahabad University]] Students Union and later received a Bachelor of Science in physics from [[Fergusson College]] in the [[Savitribai Phule Pune University|Pune University]].<ref name="Suri1990">{{cite book|first=Surindar|last=Suri|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4GmOAAAAMAAJ|title=The rise of Raja Manda and the 1989 and 1990 elections|date=1 August 1990|publisher=Konark Publishers|isbn = 9788122001853|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227224030/https://books.google.com/books?id=4GmOAAAAMAAJ|archive-date=2019-12-27}}</ref>

== Early political career ==
Singh was elected from [[Soraon (Assembly constituency)|Soraon]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.elections.in/uttar-pradesh/assembly-constituencies/1969-election-results.html | title=Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Election in 1969 Party Wise | publisher=Elections.in | access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref> to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1969 as a member of the [[Indian National Congress|Congress Party]] and became the [[Whip (politics)|chief whip]] for the legislative party. He got elected to the Lok Sabha in 1971 and was appointed a Deputy Minister of Commerce by Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] in 1974. He served as the [[Minister of Commerce and Industry (India)|Minister of Commerce]] in 1976–77.<ref>{{Cite web|last=National Informatics Centre|author-link=National Informatics Centre|date=2010|title=Tenth Lok Sabha, Members Bioprofile : SINGH, SHRI VISHWANATH PRATAP|url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/biodata_1_12/2259.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015033426/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/biodata_1_12/2259.htm|archive-date=15 October 2014|access-date=2020-12-22|website=[[Lok Sabha|LokSabha.nic]]}}</ref>

=== Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh ===
He was appointed as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1980 when Indira Gandhi was re-elected after the Janata interlude.<ref name="Britannica">{{cite web|date=23 November 2018|title=V.P. Singh &#124; Biography|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/545849/VP-Singh|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630101418/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/545849/VP-Singh|archive-date=2020-06-30|access-date=18 January 2019|publisher=Britannica.com}}</ref> As Chief Minister (1980–82), he cracked down hard on [[dacoity]], a problem that was particularly severe in the rural districts of the southwest Uttar Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VP Singh, the initiator of coalition politics in India |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/anniversary/vp-singh-the-initiator-of-coalition-politics-in-india/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref> He received much favourable national publicity when he offered to resign following a self-professed failure to stamp out the problem, and again when he personally oversaw the surrender of some of the most feared dacoits of the area in 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The queen is dead {{!}} The Guardian {{!}} guardian.co.uk|url=https://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,3604,527406,00.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501154943/https://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,3604,527406,00.html|archive-date=2020-05-01|access-date=15 September 2020|website=www. the guardian.com}}</ref> The Behmai massacre provoked outrage across the country thereby causing V. P. Singh to resign in the wake of the killings.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Nation|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060501/nation.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029113752/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060501/nation.htm|archive-date=2020-10-29|access-date=15 September 2020|website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref> as he was the under whom [[Phoolan Devi]] surrendered as he saved her life by instructing the police officers to not kill her in the [[Police encounter]] to secure the votes of Dalits (though Phoolan's 22 gang members were killed).<ref>{{Cite news|agency=PTI|date=17 January 2020|title=39 years after the 1981 Behmai massacre involving Phoolan Devi, verdict likely on Jan 18|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/39-years-after-the-1981-behmai-massacre-involving-phoolan-devi-verdict-likely-on-jan-18/article30587097.ece|access-date=15 September 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Singh was an upper caste man and had ruled the vote bank of [[Uppercaste|upper-caste]] people in [[Uttar Pradesh]] for the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ricento|first=Thomas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rMqYIwZkIYgC&q=Ideology,+Politics,+and+Language+Policies:+Focus+on+English|title=Ideology, Politics and Language Policies: Focus on English|date=2000-11-28|publisher=John Benjamins Publishing|isbn=978-90-272-9931-4|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=lKLkGi6FmjEC&dq=VP+Singh+as+Cm+of+Up&pg=PA141 141]|language=en}}</ref> He resumed his post as [[Minister of Commerce and Industry (India)|Minister of Commerce]] in 1983.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kudaisya|first=Gyanesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=roFjDwAAQBAJ&q=Region,+Nation,+%22Heartland%22:+Uttar+Pradesh+in+India's+Body|title=Region, Nation, "Heartland": Uttar Pradesh in India's Body Politic|date=2006-09-05|publisher=SAGE Publishing India|isbn=978-93-5280-542-6|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=roFjDwAAQBAJ&dq=VP+Singh+as+Cm+of+Up&pg=PA419 419]|language=en|url-access=registration}}</ref>

=== Leader of Rajya Sabha ===
After he resigned from the position of [[Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh]], he was appointed as the leader of [[Rajya Sabha]] in the year 1984 and remained so until 1987. Before him the position was assigned to [[Pranab Mukherjee]], who was removed because he then formed his own party, [[Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Business News Live, Share Market News – Read Latest Finance News, IPO, Mutual Funds News|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Vishwanath-pratap-singh|access-date=16 September 2020|website=The Economic Times}}{{dead link|date=October 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> After Singh's tenure this position was given to [[N. D. Tiwari]].{{Sfnm|1a1=Mustafa|1y=1995|2a1=Chand|2y=1990|1pp=78|2pp=45–47}} He resigned from Rajya Sabha when he left Congress in 1987.{{Sfn|Rai|2006|p=(xviii)}}

=== Member of Lok Sabha ===
He was elected to Lok Sabha in 1971 from [[Phulpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Phulpur]]. He lost from [[Allahabad (Lok Sabha constituency)|Allahabad]] in 1977, but won in 1980 as member of Indira Congress. He resigned from Lok Sabha when he became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in June 1980. After he resigned from Congress and quit as Rajya Sabha member in 1987,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sinha|first=Dipankar|date=1991|title=V. P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar, and "Nowhere Politics" in India|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2645379|journal=Asian Survey|volume=31|issue=7|pages=598–612|doi=10.2307/2645379|jstor=2645379|issn=0004-4687|url-access=subscription}}</ref> he entered Lok Sabha by winning the bye-poll for Allahabad seat vacated by [[Amitabh Bachchan]].<ref>In August 1988, V. P. Singh won the by – election to the [[Lok Sabha]] from [[Allahabad (Lok Sabha constituency)|Allahabad]], which had been vacated when [[Amitabh Bachchan]]. V. P. Singh won the seat against the Congress( I ) contender, [[Sunil Shastri]], son of the late prime minister, [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]]. ({{Harvard citation no brackets|Bhargava|1990|p=36}})</ref> He was elected to Lok Sabha from [[Fatehpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Fatehpur]] in 1989 and became Prime Minister for 11 months. He was elected from Fatehpur again in 1991, the last time he contested any election.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-30|title=Lok Sabha 2019 constituency: VP Singh won from Fatehpur, BJP holds it now|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/constituency-watch/lok-sabha-2019-constituency-vp-singh-won-from-fatehpur-bjp-holds-it-now/story-JUYQoBNRcDkL79lvO7aowJ.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703222729/https://www.hindustantimes.com/constituency-watch/lok-sabha-2019-constituency-vp-singh-won-from-fatehpur-bjp-holds-it-now/story-JUYQoBNRcDkL79lvO7aowJ.html|archive-date=2019-07-03|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

== Administerial skill ==
He was considered very close to [[Rajiv Gandhi]] as well as [[Indira Gandhi]] and was loyal to them at a time when the experienced leaders of Congress Party founded a new party, [[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]], and empowered the party of [[Indian National Congress (R)|Indian National Congress (Requisition)]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Basu|first=Manisha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E7gtDQAAQBAJ&q=Indira+gandhi+formed+a+new+opposition+party%2C+popularly+called+Congress+%28I%29%E2%80%94the+I+signifying+Indira.+During+the+next+year%2C+her+new+party+attracted+enough+members+of+the+legislature+to+become+the+official+opposition&pg=PA73|title=The Rhetoric of Hindutva|date=2017|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-107-14987-8|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=18 July 2014|title=Statistical report of Lok Sabha of 1980|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1980/Vol_I_LS_80.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718175926/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1980/Vol_I_LS_80.pdf|archive-date=18 July 2014|access-date=16 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Vinay Pratap Singh|url=https://www.facebook.com/vpsmonu|access-date=16 September 2020|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}</ref> Singh was known as "Mr. Clean" because of his impeccable history and also because of his opposition for the corruption in Bofors deal, which lead the way for him to contest his own party to fight the 1989 Lok Sabha Election and become [[Prime Minister of India]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=12 November 2018|title=Arms and the Indian politician|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/arms-and-the-indian-politician/story-bnowgaMoDWcWXWJzclncvL.html|access-date=16 September 2020|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> Singh was responsible for managing the coalition of the Left parties and the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) against [[Rajiv Gandhi]] to dethrone him in the 1989 elections. He is remembered for the important role that he played in 1989 that changed the course of Indian politics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.primepoint.in/2013/10/rise-and-fall-of-v-p-singh-genral.html|title= The Times and Tides during 1989|website=www.primepoint.in|access-date=11 December 2019}}</ref> Singh acted boldly by issuing an arrest warrant against [[L. K. Advani]] midway through the latter's Rath Yatra.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Chand|1990|p=470}}. "The insult to injury was the [[Ram Janmabhoomi|Rath yatra]] of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] chief [[L. K. Advani]] a few weeks later V. P. Singh betrayed his helplessness when with all his secular credentials, he could not save government after stopping yatra."{{vn|date=February 2021|reason=Neither book has 470 pages}}</ref>

==Ministries under Central Government==
Singh has been on the list as one of the senior-most and most powerful leaders of the [[Indian National Congress]] and has held many important ministry positions such as [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Defence]], [[External Affairs]] and [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Finance]].{{Efn|Vishwanath Singh, was one of the most trusted and noble member of [[Indian National Congress]], under the [[Indira Gandhi]] and [[Rajiv Gandhi]] holding important ministries in the central government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/v-p-singh-changed-indias-political-course-through-quota/639058|title=V P Singh Changed India's Political Course Through Quota|date=2008-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219063159/https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/v-p-singh-changed-indias-political-course-through-quota/639058|archive-date=2020-12-19|access-date=2020-12-19|website=Outline.com}}</ref>|name=|group=upper-alpha}}

=== Minister of Finance (1984–1987) ===
He was called to New Delhi following [[Rajiv Gandhi|Rajiv Gandhi's]] mandate in the [[1984 Indian general election|1984 general election]]. Singh was appointed to the post of [[Minister of Finance (India)|Finance Minister]] in the [[Tenth cabinet of India 1984|tenth Cabinet of India]], where he oversaw the gradual relaxation of the [[License Raj]] (governmental regulation) as Gandhi had in mind.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Singh|first=Hemant|date=2020-06-03|title=List of Finance Ministers of India|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/list-of-finance-ministers-of-india-1473760031-1|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Jagranjosh.com}}</ref> During his term as Finance Minister, he oversaw the reduction of gold smuggling by reducing gold taxes and giving the police a portion of the confiscated gold.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-14|title=Finance Ministers who shaped India's economy – Pillars of Indian economy|url=https://economictimes.Indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance-ministers-who-shaped-indias-economy/pranab-mukherjee-1982-1984/slideshow/67522259.cms|access-date=2020-10-29|website=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref> He also gave extraordinary powers to the [[Enforcement Directorate]] of the Finance Ministry, the wing of the ministry charged with tracking down tax evaders, then headed by Bhure Lal. Singh's efforts to reduce government regulation of business and to prosecute tax fraud attracted widespread praise.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5y8mAAAAMAAJ&q=Parliamentary+debates|title=Parliamentary Debates|date=1985|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Kk1PAQAAMAAJ&dq=Vp+Singh+as+Minister+of+Commerce&pg=RA1-PA105 105]|language=en}}</ref>

Following a number of high-profile raids on suspected evaders&nbsp;{{ndash}} including [[Dhirubhai Ambani]] and [[Amitabh Bachchan]]&nbsp;– Gandhi was forced to sack him as Finance Minister, possibly because many of the raids were conducted on industrialists who had supported the Congress financially in the past.<ref>In May 1985, Singh suddenly removed the import of [[Terephthalic acid|Purified Terephthalic Acid]] (PTA) from the Open General License category. As a raw material, this was very important to manufacture polyester filament yarn. This made it very difficult for Reliance Industries under [[Dhirubhai Ambani]] to carry on operations. Reliance was able to secure, from various financial institutions, letters of credit that would allow it to import almost one full year’s requirement of PTA on the eve of the issuance of the government notification changing the category under which PTA could be imported.</ref> However, Singh's popularity was at such a pitch that only a sideways move seemed to have been possible, to the Defence Ministry (in January 1987).<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/02/business/in-india-economic-gains-and-new-perils.html?scp=182&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse In India, economic gains and new perils]. ''The New York Times''. (2 March 1987). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> Then he succeeded his position to [[Rajiv Gandhi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=India – V.P. Singh's coalition—its brief rise and fall|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/India|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030103945/https://www.britannica.com/place/India|archive-date=30 October 2020|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>

=== Minister of Defence (1987) ===
In the year 1987, Singh was appointed on the position of [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Defence Minister of India]] for the first time but only for a period less than 3 months from 24 January 1987 to 12 April 1987. He was at that time preceded by [[Rajiv Gandhi]] and succeeded in his position by [[Krishna Chandra Pant]]. At that time due to his non-corrupt image, he was also called 'Mr. Clean'.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Mr Clean VP singh |url=https://pragmaticideas.wordpress.com/tag/mr-clean-vp-singh/|access-date=15 September 2020|website=Realistic News|language=en}}</ref> He was not able to do any good work for Defence due to holding the position for such a short time. But his biggest work was in the import of [[Bofors]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Contact Us – IndiaInfoline|url=https://www.indiainfoline.com/contactus|access-date=15 September 2020|website=www.indiainfoline.com|language=en}}</ref> Once ensconced in South Block, Singh began to investigate the notoriously murky world of defence procurement. After a while, word began to spread that Singh possessed information about the [[Bofors scandal|Bofors]] defence deal (the infamous arms-procurement fraud) that could damage Gandhi's reputation.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/23/world/indian-government-lodges-first-charges-in-weapons-scandal.html?scp=57&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse Indian Government Lodges First Charges In Weapons Scandal]. ''The New York Times''. (23 January 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> Before he could act on it, he was dismissed from the Cabinet and, in response, resigned his memberships in the Congress Party (Indira) and the Lok Sabha.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/24/world/turmoil-and-a-scandal-take-a-toll-on-gandhi.html?scp=199&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse Turmoil and a Scandal Take a Toll on Gandhi]. ''The New York Times''. (24 August 1987). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> The deal of Bofors also played a very crucial role in making of his [[Prime Minister of India]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last1=Dilip|first1=M.|date=2019-11-27|title=It's a puzzle why VP Singh was never accepted by OBCs even after Mandal Commission|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/v-p-singh-the-unsung-hero-who-was-hated-by-upper-castes-dumped-by-obcs/327230/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=[[ThePrint]]|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002152537/https://theprint.in/opinion/v-p-singh-the-unsung-hero-who-was-hated-by-upper-castes-dumped-by-obcs/327230/|archive-date=2 October 2020}}</ref>

=== Minister of External Affairs (1989) ===
He was appointed as the 16th [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Minister of External Affairs of India]] and remained in the position for another very short period of just 3 days from 2 December 1989 to 5 December 1989. He was succeeded by [[Inder Kumar Gujral]] for the position.<ref>{{Cite book|last=BRASS|first=PAUL R.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J5ZRzQEACAAJ|title=An Indian Political Life: Charan Singh and Congress Politics, 1967 To 1987|date=2014|publisher=Sage Publications India Pvt Limited-Eng|isbn=978-93-5328-895-2|language=en}}</ref>

==Formation of Janata Dal==

Together with associates [[Arun Nehru]] and [[Arif Mohammad Khan]], Singh floated an opposition party named [[Jan Morcha]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/08/world/mathura-journal-is-the-raja-ready-for-war-or-losing-his-steam.html?scp=1&sq=%22STEVEN%20R.%20WEISMAN%22%20mathura&st=cse Is the Raja Ready for War, or Losing His Steam?]. ''New York Times''. (8 October 1987). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> He was re-elected to Lok Sabha in a tightly contested by-election from Allahabad, defeating Sunil Shastri.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/13/world/gandhi-foes-face-test-of-strength.html?scp=66&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse Gandhi foes face a test of strength]. ''New York Times''. (13 June 1988). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/03/weekinreview/the-world-gandhi-is-finding-out-fast-how-much-he-had-to-lose.html?scp=36&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse Gandhi Is Finding Out Fast How Much He Had to Lose]. ''New York Times''. (3 July 1988). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> On 11 October 1988, the birthday of the original [[Janata Party|Janata]] coalition's leader [[Jayaprakash Narayan]], Singh founded the [[Janata Dal]] by the merger of [[Jan Morcha]], [[Janata Party]], [[Lok Dal]] and [[Indian National Congress (Socialist)|Congress (S)]], in order to bring together all the centrist parties opposed to the Rajiv Gandhi government, and Singh was elected the President of the Janata Dal. An opposition coalition of the Janata Dal with regional parties including the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], [[Telugu Desam Party]], and [[Asom Gana Parishad]], came into being, called the [[National Front (India)|National Front]], with V. P. Singh as convener, [[N. T. Rama Rao|NT Rama Rao]] as president, and [[P. Upendra|P Upendra]] as a General Secretary.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/18/world/new-opposition-front-in-india-stages-lively-rally.html?scp=1&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22%20%22jan%20morcha%22&st=cse New Opposition Front in India Stages Lively Rally]. ''New York Times''. (18 September 1988). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref>

The National Front fought [[1989 Indian general election|1989 General Elections]] after coming to an electoral understanding with [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] and the Left parties (the two main oppositions) that served to unify the anti-Congress vote. The National Front, with its allies, earned a simple majority in the Lok Sabha and decided to form a government. The [[Bharatiya Janta Party]] under the leadership of [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] and the Left parties such as the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] and the [[Communist Party of India]] declined to serve in the government, preferring to support the government from outside.

In a meeting in the Central Hall of Parliament on 1 December, Singh proposed the name of [[Devi Lal]] as Prime Minister, in spite of the fact that he himself had been clearly projected by the anti-Congress forces as the 'clean' alternative to Rajiv Gandhi and their Prime Ministerial candidate. Chaudhary Devi Lal, a [[Jat people|Jat]] leader from [[Haryana]] stood up and refused the nomination, and said that he would prefer to be an 'elder uncle' to the Government and that Singh should be Prime Minister.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE2DA1E3EF930A35751C1A96F948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print Man in the News; V. P. Singh: Low-key Indian in high-anxiety job&nbsp;– New York Times report]. New York Times (3 December 1989). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/02/world/indian-opposition-chooses-a-premier.html?scp=14&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse Indian opposition chooses a Premier]. ''New York Times''. (2 December 1989). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> This last part came as a clear surprise to [[Chandra Shekhar]], the former head of the erstwhile [[Janata Party]], and Singh's greatest rival within the Janata Dal. Shekhar, who had clearly expected that an agreement had been forged with Lal as the consensus candidate, withdrew from the meeting and refused to serve in the Cabinet.<ref name="tribuneindia.com">{{Cite web|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Nation|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060424/nation.htm|access-date=2020-10-29|website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref>

Singh was sworn in as [[Prime Minister of India|India's Prime Minister]] on 2 December 1989.<ref>{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926065246/http://pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-vishwanath-pratap-singh/ |date=26 September 2014 }}[https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-vishwanath-pratap-singh/ Alt URL]</ref>

==Prime Minister (1989–1990)==
{{Main|Premiership of VP Singh}}
{{See also|V. P. Singh ministry}}
Singh held office for slightly less than a year, from 2 December 1989 to 10 November 1990. After state legislative elections in March 1990, Singh's governing coalition achieved control of both houses of India's parliament. During this time, Janata Dal came to power in five Indian states under [[Om Prakash Chautala]] ([[Banarsi Das Gupta]], [[Hukam Singh (Haryana politician)|Hukam Singh]]), [[Chimanbhai Patel]], [[Biju Patnaik]], [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]], and [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]], and the National Front constituents in two more [[N. T. Rama Rao|NT Rama Rao]], and [[Prafulla Kumar Mahanta]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Saksena|first=N. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s9NszWp5fdYC|title=India, Towards Anarchy, 1967–1992|date=1993|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-296-3|language=en}}</ref> The Janata Dal also shared power in West Bengal under [[Jyoti Basu]], in [[Kerala]] under [[E. K. Nayanar|EK Nayanar]] and in [[Rajasthan]] under [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]] (supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party government from outside). Singh decided to end the Indian army's unsuccessful operation in [[Sri Lanka]] which [[Rajiv Gandhi]], his predecessor, had sent to combat the Tamil separatist movement.<ref>Obituary
''VP Singh'' [[Mark Tully]] ''[[The Guardian]]'', 3 December 2008 [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/dec/03/vp-singh-obituary]</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Saksena|first=N. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s9NszWp5fdYC|title=India, Towards Anarchy, 1967–1992|date=1993|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-296-3|language=en}}</ref>

In [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], Singh replaced the hard-line [[Siddhartha Shankar Ray]] as Governor with another former bureaucrat, [[Nirmal Kumar Mukarji]], who moved forward on a timetable for fresh elections. Singh himself made a much-publicised visit to the [[Harmandir Sahib|Golden Temple]] to ask forgiveness for [[Operation Blue Star]] and the combination of events caused the long rebellion in Punjab to die down markedly in a few months.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/12/world/india-s-premier-offers-concessions-to-sikhs.html?scp=6&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse India's Premier Offers Concessions to Sikhs]. ''New York Times''. (12 January 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref>

He also thwarted the efforts of Pakistan under [[Benazir Bhutto]] to start a border war with India.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/15/world/india-asserts-that-pakistan-is-preparing-for-border-war.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/I/International%20Relations&scp=11&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse India Asserts That Pakistan Is Preparing for Border War]. ''New York Times''. (15 April 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/22/weekinreview/the-world-india-and-pakistan-make-the-most-of-hard-feelings.html?scp=136&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse India and Pakistan Make the Most of Hard Feelings]. ''New York Times''. (22 April 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/25/world/india-stymied-pulls-last-troops-from-sri-lanka.html?scp=147&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse India, Stymied, Pulls Last Troops From Sri Lanka]. ''New York Times''. (25 March 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref>

=== Exodus of Kasmiri Hindus ===
{{Main|Exodus  of Kashmiri Hindus}}
{{See also|1989 kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed}}
V. P. Singh faced his first crisis within few days of taking office, when Kashmiri militants kidnapped the daughter of his Home Minister, [[Mufti Mohammad Sayeed]] (later Chief Minister of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=125.935.12063|url=http://jklegislativeassembly.nic.in/Governor/Sh%20Jagmohan.pdf|access-date=2020-10-29|website=JK Assembly|archive-date=29 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029114710/http://www.jklegislativeassembly.nic.in/Governor/Sh%20Jagmohan.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> His government agreed to the demand for releasing militants in exchange; partly to end the storm of criticism that followed, he shortly thereafter appointed [[Jagmohan]] Malhotra, a former bureaucrat, as Governor of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]].<ref name="tribuneindia.com" />{{Efn|Representatives of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front telephoned the local newspaper ''[[Kashmir Times]]'' at about 5:30&nbsp;p.m., stating that their group's [[mujahideen]] had kidnapped Dr Rubaiya Sayeed, and that she would remain their hostage until the government released Sheikh Abdul Hameed, a JKLF "area commander" Ghulam Nabi Butt, younger brother of the convicted and hanged terrorist [[Maqbool Butt]]; Noor Muhammad Kalwal; Muhammed Altaf; and [[Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/14/world/abducted-woman-freed-in-kashmir.html ABDUCTED WOMAN FREED IN KASHMIR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625132454/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/14/world/abducted-woman-freed-in-kashmir.html |date=25 June 2018 }}, [[The New York Times]], 1989-12-14</ref>|name=|group=upper-alpha}}

The [[Kashmiri Pandits|Pandits]] of the [[Kashmir Valley]], were forced to flee the Kashmir valley as a result of being targeted by [[JKLF]] and Islamist insurgents during late 1989 and early 1990.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Waldman|first=Amy|date=2003-03-25|title=Kashmir Massacre May Signal the Coming of Widespread Violence (Published 2003)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/25/world/kashmir-massacre-may-signal-the-coming-of-widespread-violence.html|url-status=live|access-date=2020-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211082255/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/25/world/kashmir-massacre-may-signal-the-coming-of-widespread-violence.html|archive-date=11 February 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Of the approximately 300,000 to 600,000 Hindus living in the Kashmir Valley in 1990 only 2,000–3,000 remain there in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-01-19|title=What led to the exodus of Kashmiri pandits 26 years ago?|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/business/india/kashmiri-pandit-exodus-militancy-in-jammu-kashmir-valley-20947.html|access-date=2020-10-30|website=www.indiatvnews.com|language=en}}</ref> 19 January 1990 is widely remembered by Kashmiri Hindus as the tragic "genocide day" of being forced out of Kashmir.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} Before governor [[Jagmohan Malhotra|Jagmohan]] took over and the governor's rule was imposed and the army deployed in January 1990, Hindus in the valley, were killed. Of the 2,150 incidents of violence, 2100 attacks were against civilians.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Singh|first=Aarti Tikoo|date=2020-01-19|title=Truth of Kashmiri Hindu Exodus|url=https://medium.com/@aarti.tikoo/truth-of-kashmiri-hindu-exodus-e416dc2e7efe|access-date=2020-10-30|website=Medium|language=en}}</ref> The [[Home Minister]] at that time [[Mufti Mohammad Sayeed]] was blamed for this act and was called it as the support of the [[Islamic]] insurgents to establish [[Islamic state]] in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)]].{{Efn|In order to undermine his political rival [[Farooq Abdullah]] who at that time was the Chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, the [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Minister of Home Affairs]] [[Mufti Mohammad Sayeed]] convinced Prime Minister [[V.P. Singh]] to appoint Jagmohan as the governor of the state. Abdullah resented Jagmohan who had been appointed as the governor earlier in April 1984 as well and had recommended Abdullah's dismissal to [[Rajiv Gandhi]] in July 1984. Abdullah had earlier declared that he would resign if Jagmohan was made the Governor. However, the Central government went ahead and appointed him as Governor on 19 January 1990. In response, Abdullah resigned on the same day and Jagmohan suggested the dissolution of the State Assembly.<ref name=IndiaToday>{{Cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/exodus-of-kashmiri-pandits-january-19-jammu-and-kashmir/1/574071.html |title=Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits: What happened on January 19, 26 years ago? |newspaper=India Today |date=19 January 2016 |access-date=2017-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516193945/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/exodus-of-kashmiri-pandits-january-19-jammu-and-kashmir/1/574071.html |archive-date=16 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The group targeted a Kashmiri Hindu for the first time on 14 September 1989, when they killed Tika Lal Taploo, an advocate and a prominent leader of [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] in Jammu & Kashmir in front of several eyewitnesses. This instilled fear in the Kashmiri Hindus especially as Taploo's killers were never caught which also emboldened the terrorists. The Hindus felt that they were not safe in the valley and could be targeted any time. The killings of Kashmiri Hindus continued that included many of the prominent ones.<ref name="Tikoo p.414">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iuURFTHTU0EC&q=september+14+1989+kashmiri+pandits&pg=PT414 |title=Kashmir: Its Aboriginies and Their Exodus |author=Colonel Tej K Tikoo |page=414 |year=2012 |publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=9781935501589 }}</ref>|name=|group=upper-alpha}}

=== 62 Amendment of 1989 and SC-ST Act ===
{{Main|Sixty-second Amendment of the Constitution of India|Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989}}In the year 1989, the government by Singh implemented the [[Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989|SC-ST Act of 1989]] to prevent the atrocities against the members of [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Supreme Court: SC/ST Amendment Act Constitutionally Valid, No Preliminary Enquiry for FIR|url=https://thewire.in/caste/sc-st-amendment-act-supreme-court|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803202537/https://thewire.in/caste/sc-st-amendment-act-supreme-court|archive-date=2020-08-03|access-date=2020-12-23|website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref> It was enacted when the provisions of the existing laws (such as the Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 and Indian Penal Code) were found to be inadequate to check these crimes (defined as 'atrocities' in the Act).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-08-02|title=Amendment to SC/ST Act will be passed in this session|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/amendment-sc/st-act-will-be-685165.html|access-date=2020-12-23|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref> Recognising the continuing gross indignities and offences against Scheduled Castes and Tribes, the Parliament passed the '[[Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989|Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Social Justice as per the 20th century|url=http://socialjustice.nic.in/Home/Error?aspxerrorpath=%2Fpoa-rule.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919062104/http://socialjustice.nic.in/Home/Error?aspxerrorpath=/poa-rule.php|archive-date=2018-09-19|access-date=2020-12-23|website=[[Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment]]}}</ref> The objectives of the Act clearly emphasised the intention of the government to deliver justice to these communities through proactive efforts to enable them to live in society with dignity and self-esteem and without fear or violence or suppression from the dominant castes. The practice of [[untouchability]], in its overt and covert form was made a cognizable and non-compoundable offence, and strict punishment is provided for any such offence. The act was finally passed somehow with controversies.<ref>1. {{Cite web|title=SC-St Act in MP factsheet|url=http://openspace.org.in/files/MP%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426044448/http://openspace.org.in/files/MP%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf|archive-date=26 April 2012|access-date=25 December 2011|website=Openspace}}2. {{Cite web|title=Report card of SC-ST Act|url=http://www.ncdhr.org.in/latestinterventions/Report%20Card%20Eng.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426051848/http://www.ncdhr.org.in/latestinterventions/Report%20Card%20Eng.pdf|archive-date=26 April 2012|access-date=15 December 2011|website=NCDHR}}

3. {{Cite web|title=SC-ST ACT in Bihar|url=http://openspace.org.in/files/Bihar%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426044504/http://openspace.org.in/files/Bihar%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf|archive-date=26 April 2012|access-date=25 December 2011|website=Openspace}}</ref>

===Mandal Commission report===
{{Main|Mandal Commission}}
{{See also|Mandal Commission protests of 1990}}
Singh himself wished to move forward nationally on social justice-related issues, which would, in addition, consolidate the caste coalition that supported the [[Janata Dal]] in northern India, and accordingly decided to implement the recommendations of the [[Mandal Commission]] which suggested that a fixed quota of all jobs in the public sector be [[Reservation in India|reserved]] for members of the historically disadvantaged called [[Other Backward Classes]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-03-23|title=Mandal vs Mandir|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/mandal-vs-mandir/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141543/https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/mandal-vs-mandir/|archive-date=2017-05-25|access-date=2020-12-22|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>{{Efn|Leading to the formation of the Mandal Commission, Indian society was based largely on the principles of Caste and to that extent a partially closed system. The lack of social mobility created a social stratification that played a dominant role within Indian society, laying the context for the Mandal Commission to be formed. Therefore, during the late 1900s, India witnessed caste and class to stand for different patterns of distribution of properties/occupations for individuals. This directly affected Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes that were known collectively as Other Backward Classes (OBC), which were the focus groups that experienced the severities of caste/class stratification within the social organization (caste) found within traditional India.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P-c0nGTRxRIC&q=mandal+commission+and+mandalisation&pg=PA257|title=Current Trends in Indian Politics|last=Gehlot|first=N. S.|date=1998|publisher=Deep & Deep Publications|isbn=9788171007981|pages=264–265}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Sharma|first1=Pawan Kumar|last2=Parthi|first2=Komila|date=June 2004|title=Reproductive health services in Punjab: Evidence of access for Scheduled Castes and non-Scheduled Castes|journal=Social Change|volume=34|issue=2|pages=40–65|doi=10.1177/004908570403400204|s2cid=146674412|issn=0049-0857}}</ref>|name=|group=upper-alpha}}

This decision led to widespread protests among the [[Upper-caste|upper caste]] youth in urban areas in northern India. OBC reservation (less creamy layer) was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2008.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/22/world/affirmative-action-has-india-s-students-astir.html?scp=171&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse Affirmative Action Has India's Students Astir]. ''The New York Times''. (22 August 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/27/world/premier-of-india-in-appeal-on-riots.html?scp=19&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse Premier of India in appeal on riots]. ''The New York Times''. (27 September 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> Culturally unique features of the protests and riots were [[bandh]]s (a version of a strike), [[hartal]]s (a version of a municipal shut-down), [[dharna]]s (a version of swarming).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Datta|first=Saikat|title=This time it's different: Recalling the anti-reservation Mandal protests of 1990|url=http://scroll.in/article/804673/this-time-its-different-recalling-the-anti-reservation-mandal-protests-of-1990|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Scroll.in|date=6 March 2016 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=July 2, 2007 |title=Mandal Commission – 27 percent reservation in government jobs, 1990|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20070702-1990-mandal-commission-748367-2007-07-02|access-date=2020-10-29|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> Articles also highlighted politicians and victims of rioting during the protests. Although not advisable, late summer travel by airline and vehicle during the protests was possible without delays, between capitals New Delhi and Chandigarh, and Shimla for example. [[Delhi Police|Police]] prevented extending the range and duration of the strikes, and some strike activity from even occurring.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-09-01|title=Sunday Story: Mandal Commission report, 25 years later|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/sunday-story-mandal-commission-report-25-years-later/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> A national state of emergency was largely not declared to mobilize army units against any one demonstration. The strike helped to give large popularity to the [[Mandal Commission]] report and fueled the political grouping of the [[OBC quota|OBC]] castes, which later helped a lot for the strengthening of regional political parties and stronger parties and other than [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] and [[BJP]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rattanpal|first=Divyani|date=2017-08-07|title=How VP Singh Stirred a Hornet's Nest With the Mandal Commission|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/how-vp-singh-stirred-a-hornets-nest-with-the-mandal-commission|access-date=2020-10-29|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref> Due to the loss of the votes of the [[backward caste]] neither party opposed it and on seeing the protest nor parties declined it.<ref>Double aspects of [[Mandal Commission]]:-

*With a coalition of opposition parties, the [[Janata Dal]], and gave outside support to the government led by V. P. Singh. The government did not survive long after V. P. Singh's decision to implement the [[Mandal Commission]]'s recommendations as every party had fear of losing the votes of the upper [[Caste system in India|castes]]. ({{Harvard citation no brackets|Sinha|2013|p='''31 (7)''' ({{small|603}})}})
*The act was passed finally in 1990, even after a series of [[Mandal Commission protests of 1990|protests]] as it was a bet of the votes of [[Backward Castes|backward castes]]. ({{Harvard citation no brackets|Mustafa|1995|p=256}})</ref>

Even after the passing of the reservations for the [[Other Backward Class]], he was never accepted by them, and his upper-caste voters also didn't have to trust him. {{Sfn|Chand|1990|pp=87–89}}<ref name=":0"/> Afterward, OBC leaders flexed their political power and outnumbered upper and lower castes to gain political power in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The OBC leaders rejected sharing power with lower caste leaders.<ref>Dalits, Subalternity and Social Change in India, p. 21, Ashok K. Pankaj, Ajit K. Pandey, Routledge</ref>

===Tug of war with the Reliance group===
In 1990, the government-owned financial institutions like the [[Life Insurance Corporation of India]] and the [[General Insurance Corporation of India]] stonewalled attempts by the Reliance group to acquire managerial control over [[Larsen & Toubro]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Paranjoy Guha Thakurta|date=February 15, 1990 |title=V.P. Singh government fires first salvo against RIL|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/economy/story/19900215-v.p.-singh-government-fires-first-salvo-against-ril-812373-1990-02-15|access-date=2020-10-29|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> Sensing defeat, the Ambanis resigned from the board of the company. [[Dhirubhai Ambani|Dhirubhai]], who had become Larsen & Toubro's chairman in April 1989, had to quit his position to make way for D. N. Ghosh, former chairman of the [[State Bank of India]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Ghosh|first1=Subir|last2=Thakurta|first2=Paronjoy Guha|date=2016-04-16|title=The Unhappy Prince: How Reliance Buried a Book|url=https://thewire.in/books/the-unhappy-prince-how-dhirubhai-ambani-buried-a-book|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109025500/https://thewire.in/books/the-unhappy-prince-how-dhirubhai-ambani-buried-a-book|archive-date=2020-11-09|access-date=2020-10-29|website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref>
[[File:Advani Yatra 1990.svg|thumb|upright=1.15|Map of [[Ram Rath Yatra]] by [[L. K. Advani]].]]

===Ram temple issue and the fall of the coalition===
{{Main|Ram Rath Yatra}}
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party was moving its own agenda forward. In particular, the [[Ram Janmabhoomi]] agitation, which served as a rallying cry for several Hindu organisations, took on a new life. The party president, [[L. K. Advani|LK Advani]], with [[Pramod Mahajan]] as aide, toured the northern states on a ''rath''&nbsp;– a bus converted to look like a mythical chariot&nbsp;– with the intention of drumming up support.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/18/world/hindu-fundamentalist-threatens-india-s-government-over-temple.html?scp=47&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse Hindu fundamentalist threatens India's government over temple]. ''New York Times''. (18 October 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> Before he could complete the tour by reaching the disputed site in [[Ayodhya]], he was arrested by [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]'s orders at [[Samastipur]] on the charges of disturbing the peace and fomenting communal tension. Lalu wanted to prevent the communal clashes which took place at different places for this Rath Yatra, and also Bihar faced a similar scenario in 1989 due to the Shilanyas by Rajiv Gandhi Government. Karsevaks reached the site on 30 October 1990, and by the orders of [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]] police fired openly upon the Kar sevaks. A deadly riot took place in Ayodhya on 2 November.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/26/world/india-sends-troops-to-stop-hindu-march.html?scp=146&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse India Sends Troops to Stop Hindu March]. ''New York Times''. (26 October 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/30/world/india-ready-to-bar-hindu-move-today.html India ready to bar Hindu move today&nbsp;– New York Times report]. ''New York Times''. (30 October 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/01/world/toll-in-india-clash-at-mosque-rises.html?scp=44&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse Toll in India clash at Mosque rises]. ''New York Times''. (1 November 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref>

This led to the Bharatiya Janata Party's suspension of support to the National Front government.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/24/world/india-s-prime-minister-loses-his-parliamentary-majority-in-temple-dispute.html?scp=60&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse India's Prime Minister Loses His Parliamentary Majority in Temple Dispute]. ''New York Times''. (24 October 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> VP Singh faced the vote of no confidence in the Lok Sabha saying that he occupied the high moral ground, as he stood for secularism, had saved the Babri Masjid at the cost of power and had upheld the fundamental principles which were challenged during the crises. "What kind of India do you want?" he asked of his opponents in Parliament, before losing the vote 142–346;<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3DC1439F93BA35752C1A966958260&sec=travel&spon=&pagewanted=all India's cabinet falls as Premier loses confidence vote, by 142–346, and quits&nbsp;– New York Times report]. New York Times (8 November 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/08/opinion/a-test-of-principles-in-india.html A Test of Principles in India&nbsp;– New York Times Editorial]. ''New York Times''. (8 November 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/11/world/a-question-unanswered-where-is-india-headed.html?scp=62&sq= A Question Unanswered: Where Is India Headed?]. ''New York Times''. (11 November 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> only a portion of the National Front remaining loyal to him and the [[Communism in India|Left parties]] supported him in the vote.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sinha|first=Dipankar|title=V. P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar, and "Nowhere Politics" in India|date=2013-07-19|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/as.1991.31.7.00p00715|access-date=2020-10-29|journal=Asian Survey|volume=31|issue=7|pages=598–612|doi=10.2307/2645379|jstor=2645379 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

And then, Singh resigned on 7 November 1990.{{Efn|On November 7, 1990, V.P. Singh resigned after suffering a vote of no confidence by a stunning margin of 356 to 151.|name=|group=upper-alpha}}

===Chandra Shekhar government===
{{External media|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUliFLz8s48 The race for PM in Janata Dal and SSP]. Retrieved from YouTube on 26 May 2018.}}
Chandra Shekhar immediately seized the moment and left the Janata Dal with several of his own supporters (including [[Devi Lal]], [[Janeshwar Mishra]], [[H. D. Deve Gowda|HD Deve Gowda]], [[Maneka Gandhi]], [[Ashoke Kumar Sen]], [[Subodh Kant Sahay]], [[Om Prakash Chautala]], [[Hukam Singh (Haryana politician)|Hukam Singh]], [[Chimanbhai Patel]], [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]], [[Yashwant Sinha]], [[Vidya Charan Shukla|VC Shukla]], and [[Sanjaya Sinh|Sanjay Singh]]) to form the [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)|Samajwadi Janata Party/Janata Dal (Socialist)]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/06/world/dissidents-split-indian-prime-minister-s-party.html?scp=16&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse Dissidents Split Indian Prime Minister's Party]. ''New York Times''. (6 November 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> Although Chandra Shekhar had a mere 64 MPs, [[Rajiv Gandhi]] the leader of the Opposition, agreed to support him on the floor of the House; so he won a confidence motion and was sworn in as Prime Minister.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/10/world/rival-of-singh-becomes-india-premier.html?scp=17&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse Rival of Singh Becomes India Premier]. ''New York Times''. (10 November 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> Eight Janata Dal MPs who voted for this motion were disqualified by the speaker [[Rabi Ray]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Hazarika|first1=Sanjoy|date=1990-11-10|title=Rival of Singh Becomes India Premier (Published 1990)|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/10/world/rival-of-singh-becomes-india-premier.html|access-date=2020-10-29|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> His government lasted only a few months before he resigned and called for fresh elections.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Matthews|first=Roderick|date=2020-08-07|title=Chandra Shekhar had 'solved' Ayodhya issue. But 'petty' Rajiv Gandhi brought his govt down|url=https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/chandra-shekhar-solved-ayodhya-issue-but-rajiv-gandhi-brought-his-govt-down/476478/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=[[ThePrint]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Post-premiership and death==
VP Singh contested the new elections but his party was relegated to the opposition chiefly due to the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi (May 1991) during the election campaign, and he later retired from active politics.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/24/world/crossroads-for-india-special-report-for-india-will-it-be-change-secularism-right.html?scp=72&sq= For India, Will It Be Change, Secularism or a Right Wing?]. ''New York Times''. (24 April 1991). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref><ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE2DC1538F937A25756C0A967958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print Ex-Darling of India Press Finds Himself Ignored]. ''The New York Times'' (14 May 1991). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> He spent the next few years touring the country speaking about matters related to issues of social justice and his artistic pursuits, chiefly painting.<ref>{{Cite web|title=V P Singh {{!}} Paintings by V P Singh {{!}} V P Singh Painting - Saffronart.com|url=https://www.saffronart.com/artists/v-p-singh|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Saffronart}}</ref>

[[File:The_Vice_President_of_India,_Shri_Bhairon_Singh_Shekhawat_looking_at_painting_works_by_the_former_Prime_Minister_Shri_V._P._Singh,_after_inaugurating_the_exhibition,_in_New_Delhi_on_February_14,_2006.jpg|thumb|left|The Vice President of India, Shri [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]] looking at painting works by the former Prime Minister Shri V. P. Singh, after inaugurating the exhibition, in New Delhi on 14 February 2006]]
In 1992, Singh was the first to propose the name of the future President [[K. R. Narayanan|KR Narayanan]] as a (eventually successful) candidate for vice president.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rediff on the NeT: V P Singh roots for Narayanan to be made President|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/mar/28naraya.htm|access-date=2020-10-29|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref> Later the same year in December, he led his followers to [[Ayodhya dispute|Ayodhya]] to oppose the Karseva proposed by [[LK Advani]], and was arrested before he could reach the site; the Masjid was demolished by the [[Kar Sevak|Karsevaks]] a few days later.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ravikumar|first=Kalavoor|date=2017-12-07 |title=Yearning for a VP Singh|url=https://www.theweek.in/webworld/features/society/yearning-for-a-vp-singh.html|access-date=2020-10-29|website=theweek.in}}</ref> In 1996, the Congress party lost the general elections and Singh was the natural choice of the winning United Front (Singh was one of the forces behind the broad United Front coalition) for the post of Prime Minister. But he declined the offer made to him by communist veteran [[Jyoti Basu]], Bihar strongman [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]] and almost all leaders of the Janata family.

In an interview with [[Shekhar Gupta]] in July 2005, Singh said that he had resigned from the Rajiv Gandhi cabinet due to differences that arose in the dealing of information regarding commissions taken by Indian agents in the [[Shishumar-class submarine|HDW submarine deal]], and not due to Bofors.<ref name="vp">{{cite news|last1=Gupta|first1=Shekhar|date=1 July 2005|title=Walk the talk – an interview with V.P.Singh.|publisher=NDTV |url=https://www.ndtv.com/video/shows/walk-the-talk/walk-the-talk-with-vp-singh-aired-july-2005-303898|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref> In April 1987, Singh received a secret telegram from J.C.Ajmani, the [[List of ambassadors of India to Germany|Indian ambassador in West Germany]]. The telegram stated that Indian agents had received large commissions in the HDW deal. These commissions amounted to a staggering Rs. 32.55 crore (7% of the agreed price). Singh informed Rajiv Gandhi about this and instituted an inquiry. However, the handling of this case led to differences and Singh finally resigned from the cabinet.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chawla|first1=Prachu|date=15 March 1990 |title=HDW submarine deal assumes centre stage again. An exclusive inside story|work=India Today|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19900315-hdw-submarine-deal-assumes-centre-stage-again.-an-exclusive-inside-story-812418-1990-03-15|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref>[[File:The_Prime_Minister,_Dr._Manmohan_Singh,_paying_homage_at_the_mortal_remains_of_the_former_Prime_Minister,_Shri_V_P_Singh,_in_New_Delhi_on_November_28,_2008.jpg|thumb|The Prime Minister, Dr. [[Manmohan Singh]], paying homage at the mortal remains of the former Prime Minister, Shri V. P. Singh, in New Delhi on 28 November 2008]]

Singh was diagnosed with cancer in 1998 and ceased public appearances. When his cancer went into remission in 2003, he once again became a visible figure, especially in the many groupings that had inherited the space once occupied by his [[Janata Dal]]. He relaunched the [[Jan Morcha]] in 2006 with actor-turned-politician [[Raj Babbar]] as president.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110606113939/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006042402151300.htm&date=2006/04/24/&prd=th& V. P. Singh, Raj Babbar launch new Jan Morcha]}}</ref> After Jan Morcha drew a blank in the 2007 UP elections, Raj Babbar joined the Congress, and Singh's elder son [[Ajeya Pratap Singh|Ajeya Singh]] took over the reins of the party in anticipation of the 2009 General elections.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081202035249/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2008112854871400.htm&date=2008/11/28/&prd=th& An irreparable loss: Mayawati]}}</ref> Ajeya Singh then contested as Jan Morcha candidate from Fatehpur, but lost to [[Rakesh Sachan]] of the [[Samajwadi Party]]. The [[Jan Morcha]] was renamed as the National Jan Morcha in June 2009.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090624012827/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2009060550920900.htm&date=2009/06/05/&prd=th& National Jan Morcha plans farmers’ meet in Delhi]}}</ref> A month later, the Jan Morcha merged with the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200907251822.htm Jan Morcha merges with Congress]. ''The Hindu''. (25 July 2009). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> In 2006, Singh was placed under arrest in [[Ghaziabad, India|Ghaziabad]] as he and his supporters were proceeding towards a hauling where prohibitory orders under [[Unlawful assembly|Section 144]] had been imposed to join the farmers agitating against the acquisition of land at [[Dadri]] by the [[Anil Ambani]]-owned Reliance Industries and demanding adequate compensation.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081205161444/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006070902680800.htm&date=2006/07/09/&prd=th& V. P. Singh arrested on way to Reliance plant]}}</ref> Later, Singh and CPI General Secretary [[A. B. Bardhan|AB Bardhan]] were again arrested on the UP border when they were proceeding to Dadri.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081205161504/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006081807171200.htm&date=2006/08/18/&prd=th& V. P. Singh, Bardhan held on U. P. border]}}</ref> However, Singh and Babbar were later able to evade the police, reaching Dadri on 18 August 2006, and ploughing the land in solidarity with the farmers.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081205161508/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006081913030500.htm&date=2006/08/19/&prd=th& V. P. Singh, Raj Babbar spring a surprise at Dadri]}}</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110606114201/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006082509781300.htm&date=2006/08/25/&prd=th& Jan Morcha plans `Nyaya Yatra']}}</ref>

Singh died after a very long struggle with [[multiple myeloma]] and kidney failure at [[Apollo Hospital]] in Delhi on 27 November 2008, aged 77.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081205162226/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2008112861110100.htm&date=2008/11/28/&prd=th& V. P. Singh passes away]}}</ref> He was cremated at [[Allahabad]] on the banks of the River [[Ganges]] on 29 November 2008, his son [[Ajeya Pratap Singh|Ajeya Singh]] lighting the funeral pyre.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081205162654/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2008113050040100.htm&date=2008/11/30/&prd=th& V. P. Singh cremated]}}</ref> He was cremated with full state honour.{{Efn|After battling with cancer and renal failure for a decade, former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh died on Thursday at New Delhi’s Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, reports HT Correspondent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/former-pm-vp-singh-dies/story-QLzYogVnZuYs0zYMVC28wL.html|website=[[The Hindustan Times]]|title=Former PM VP Singh dies|date=2008-11-28}}</ref>|name=|group=upper-alpha}}

== Office held ==

=== Political Offices ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!S. No.
!Office
!Seat
!Tenure
!Preceded
!Succeeded
!Ref.
|-
|1.
|[[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of Legislative Assembly]]
|[[Soraon (Assembly constituency)|Soraon]]
|1969–1971
| –
| –
|{{Spaces|5|}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Soraon Election and Results 2018, Candidate list, Winner, Runner-up, Current MLA and Previous MLAs|url=http://www.elections.in/uttar-pradesh/assembly-constituencies/soraon.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919004702/http://www.elections.in/uttar-pradesh/assembly-constituencies/soraon.html|archive-date=2020-09-19|access-date=2020-12-19|website=[[Election Commission of India|www.elections.in]]}}</ref>
|-
|2.
|[[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
|[[Phulpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Phulpur]]
|1971–1977
|[[Janeshwar Mishra]]
|[[Kamala Bahuguna]]
|{{Spaces|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-05-12|title=Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Phulpur gave country 2 prime ministers, got only IFFCO as trophy|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-phulpur-gave-country-2-prime-minsters-got-only-iffco-as-trophy/story-xmAqSSiqlgmbfaA7XhtY5J.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806225010/https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-phulpur-gave-country-2-prime-minsters-got-only-iffco-as-trophy/story-xmAqSSiqlgmbfaA7XhtY5J.html|archive-date=2020-08-06|access-date=2020-12-19|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|3.
|[[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
|[[Fatehpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Fatehpur]]
|1980-1980
|[[Janeshwar Mishra]]
|Krishna Prakash Tiwari
|{{Spaces|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-04-10|title=Lok Sabha|url=http://164.100.47.134/newls/lokprelist.aspx?lsno=7|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410173849/http://164.100.47.134/newls/lokprelist.aspx?lsno=7|archive-date=2009-04-10|access-date=2020-12-19}}</ref>
|-
|4.
|[[Member of Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of Legislative Assembly]]
|Tindwari
|1980–1983
| –
| –
|{{Spaces|5}}<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gupta|first=Madan Gopal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NwseAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Prime+Ministers+of+India+by+Madan+Gopal|title=The Prime Ministers of India|date=1989|publisher=M.G. Publishers|isbn=978-81-85532-01-1|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=NwseAAAAMAAJ&q=VP+Singh+as+cm+of+up 492]|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|5.
|[[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
|1983–1988
| –
| –
|{{Spaces|5}}<ref>{{Cite book|last=India Parliament Rajya Sabha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m2KvAAAAIAAJ|title=Parliamentary Debates: Official Report|date=1994|publisher=Council of States Secretariat|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=P0dPAQAAMAAJ&q=VP+Singh+when+member+of+Rajya+Sabha 183] |language=en|author-link=Rajya Sabha}}</ref>
|-
|6.
|[[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
|[[Allahabad]]
|1988–1989
|[[Amitabh Bachchan]]
|[[Janeshwar Mishra]]
|{{Spaces|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014|title=Parliamentary Constituency Wise Turnout for General Elections 2014|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/GE2014/PC_WISE_TURNOUT.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525214134/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/GE2014/PC_WISE_TURNOUT.htm|archive-date=2014-05-25|access-date=2020-12-19|website=[[Election Commission of India]]|location=[[West Bengal]]}}</ref>
|-
|7.
|[[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
|[[Fatehpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Fatehpur]]
|1989–1996
|[[Hari Krishna Shastri]]
|[[Vishambhar Prasad Nishad]]
|{{Spaces|2}}<ref>{{Cite news|last=Crossette|first=Barbara|date=1991-06-17|title=PARTY OF GANDHI NARROWLY AHEAD IN INDIA ELECTION (Published 1991)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/17/world/party-of-gandhi-narrowly-ahead-in-india-election.html|access-date=2020-12-19|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=RAJYA SABHA STATISTICAL INFORMATION (1952–2013) |url=http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/publication_electronic/rsstatis_inf52-03.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821164322/https://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/publication_electronic/rsstatis_inf52-03.pdf |archive-date=2019-08-21|access-date=2020-12-19|website=[[Rajya Sabha]]|location=Rajya Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi}}</ref>
|}

===Political Positions===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!S. No.
!Position
!Tenure
!Preceded
!Succeeded
|-
|1.
|[[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Ministry of Commerce and Industry]] 
|1976–1977
|
|
|-
|2.
|[[Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh|12th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh]]
|9 June 1980 –  19 July 1982
|[[Banarsi Das]]
|[[Sripati Mishra]]
|-
|3.
|[[Minister of Finance (India)|Finance Minister of India]]
|31 December 1984 –   23 January 1987
|[[Rajiv Gandhi]]
|[[Pranab Mukherjee]]
|-
|4.
|Leader of Rajya Sabha
|December 1984      –   April 1987
|[[Pranab Mukherjee]]
|[[N. D. Tiwari]]
|-
|5.
|[[Ministry of Defence (India)|Defence Minister of India]]
|24 January 1987     –   12 April 1987
|[[Rajiv Gandhi]]
|[[Krishna Chandra Pant]]
|-
|6.
|[[External affairs minister of india|External Affairs minister of India]]
|2 December 1989    –    5 December 1989
|[[P. V. Narasimha Rao|P. V. Narsimaha Rao]]
|[[Inder Kumar Gujral]]
|-
|7.
|[[Prime Minister of India|7th Prime Minister of India]]
|2 December 1989    –   10 November 1990
|[[Rajiv Gandhi]]
|[[Chandra Shekhar]]
|-
|8.
|[[Ministry of Defence (India)|Defence Minister of India]]
|2 December 1989    –   10 November 1990
|[[Krishna Chandra Pant]]
|[[Chandra Shekhar]]
|}

== Personal life ==
[[File:D_Roopa_IPS.jpg|thumb|V. P. Singh and his wife Sita Kumari with [[National Cadet Corps (India)|NCC cadet]] [[D. Roopa]].]]
Singh married Princess Sita Kumari, the daughter of the Raja of Deogarh-Madaria, Rajasthan, on his 24th birthday. It was an arranged marriage and she was 18. Kumari was a [[Sisodia Dynasty|Sisodia]] Rajput descended from [[Maharana Pratap]] of [[Udaipur]]. The couple had two sons, [[Ajeya Pratap Singh]] (born 1957), a chartered accountant in New York City, and Abhay Pratap Singh (born 1958), a doctor at the [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences]] in New Delhi.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Singh|first1=Khushwant|title=Malicious Gossip|date=11 April 2013|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers India |isbn=9789350292891 |chapter=Plane to Pakistan|author-link=Khushwant Singh|access-date=26 August 2014|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lyq-wdNuXe4C&q=V.+P.+Singh+marriage&pg=PT48}}</ref>

After his death, his elder son Ajeya Singh was sworn as the [[Raja Bahadur]] of the [[Manda (zamindari)|Manda estate]] in 2007 and in 2009, he merged his party [[Jan Morcha]] with [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-11-08|title=In Manda, a long way from Mandal|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/in-manda-a-long-way-from-mandal/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=VP's son does groundwork to become self-made politician – Indian Express|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/vp-s-son-does-groundwork-to-become--selfmade--politician/357816/ |access-date=2020-10-29|website=archive.indianexpress.com}}</ref>

== Cultural legacy ==

===Painting===

V.P. Singh was also a talented artist. His engagement with the arts began long before his political career and continued when he returned to painting while recuperating from illness. Singh's work—primarily sketches, watercolors, and oil paintings—has been exhibited in New Delhi, Mumbai, London, and other cities. In his later years, the themes in his art became more restless and frenzied.<ref>{{Cite web |title=V P Singh {{!}} Paintings by V P Singh {{!}} V P Singh Painting - Saffronart.com |url=https://www.saffronart.com/artists/v-p-singh |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Saffronart}}</ref>

Singh’s artistic career paused during his time in politics but resumed after he left public office. On December 29, 2003, 110 of his paintings were exhibited at Aparna Arts Gallery in Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-12-29 |title=Delhi's Aparna Arts Gallery exhibits former PM V.P. Singh's paintings |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/your-week/story/20031229-former-pm-v-p-singhs-painting-exhibition-at-aparna-arts-gallery-in-delhi-791226-2003-12-28 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

His son, [[Ajeya Pratap Singh|Ajeya Singh]], showcased his father's paintings on May 6, 2015, at Aryan Art Gallery in Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-07 |title=Ajeya Singh’s art: More than Prime Shades |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/ajeya-singhs-art-more-than-prime-shades/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Singh began his artistic journey as an accomplished photographer before progressing to pencil sketches. He later studied under Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal in Allahabad,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-30 |title=Exhibition of ‘wash painting’ pioneer’s works from today |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/exhibition-of-wash-painting-pioneers-works-from-today/articleshow/90529114.cms |access-date=2024-09-22 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> where he learned wash painting and figurative drawing in the Bengal School style. His works are both impressionist and expressionist in nature, with some surrealist and non-figurative pieces.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AstaGuru - Modern Indian Art, Vintage : Watches Jewellery, Cars, Collectibles |url=https://www.astaguru.com/artists/v-p-singh |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=www.astaguru.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Statue===
A statue of V.P. Singh is situated at [[Presidency College, Chennai|Presidency College]], Chennai. It was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister [[M. K. Stalin]] in the presence of V.P. Singh's wife and [[Akhilesh Yadav]] on 27 November 2023.<ref>{{Cite news|work=The Hindu |date=2023-11-27 |title=Unveiling V.P. Singh's statue in Chennai, Stalin reiterates demand for caste census |language=en-IN|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-cm-stalin-unveils-statue-of-former-pm-vp-singh-in-chennai/article67578989.ece |access-date=2023-12-03 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

===Films===
# Juliet Reynolds, an art critic and a close friend of Singh, made a short documentary on him, titled ''The Art of the Impossible'' (45 minutes long), and covers his political and artistic career.<ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/20010121/ien21030.html The Raja, Up, Close and Personal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426141811/http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/20010121/ien21030.html |date=26 April 2009 }}. ''Indian Express''. (21 January 2001). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref>
# [[Suma Josson]] made another film on Singh titled ''One More Day to Live''.<ref>[http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/sumajosson.html Suma Josson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514045800/http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/sumajosson.html |date=14 May 2009 }}. Cinemaofmalayalam.net. Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref>
#[[Shekhar Gupta]] had interviewed Singh in 2007, with the episode titled ''Walk The Talk with V. P. Singh.''<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gupta|first=Shekhar|date=2020-02-01|title=Shekhar Gupta: The craft of war|work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/shekhar-gupta-the-craft-of-war-120020100024_1.html|url-status=live|access-date=2020-12-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201080321/https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/shekhar-gupta-the-craft-of-war-120020100024_1.html|archive-date=2020-02-01}}</ref>

===Books connected===

# {{Cite book|ref=none|last=Shourie|first=Arun|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_4wbAAAAIAAJ|title=The State as Charade: V.P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar & the Rest|publisher=Roli Books|year=1991|isbn=9788190019910|location=[[University of California]]|author-link=Arun Shourie|archive-url=https://books.google.com/books/about/The_State_as_charade.html?id=fQBIAAAAMAAJ|archive-date=2007-12-26}}
# {{Cite book|ref=none|last=Gujral|first=Inder Kumar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K6pABAAAQBAJ|title=Matters of Discretion: An Autobiography|publisher=[[Penguin Books]] Publication|year=2011|isbn=978-93-8048-080-0|author-link=Inder Kumar Gujral|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728082435/https://books.google.com/books?id=K6pABAAAQBAJ|archive-date=28 July 2023|access-date=7 November 2020|url-status=bot: unknown}}
#{{Cite book|ref=none|last=Upender|first=P.|title=Gatham Swagatham|year=1994|author-link=P. Upendra}}
# {{Cite book|ref=none|last=Ramaswami|first=Venkatraman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jjhuAAAAMAAJ|title=My Presidential Years|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers India|year=1994|isbn=81-7223-202-0|location=[[University of Michigan]]|author-link=Ramaswamy Venkataraman}}

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[List of Rajputs]]
* [[Ram Rath Yatra]]
* [[List of prime ministers of India]]
* [[Ministry of Defence (India)]]
* [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)]]
* [[Minister of Finance (India)]]
* [[Seema Mustafa]]
* [[Chandra Shekhar]]
* [[Janata Dal]]
* [[Devi Lal]]
* [[V. P. Singh ministry]]
* [[Manda (zamindari)]]
* [[Jan Morcha]]
* [[1989 kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed]]{{div col end}}

==References==

=== Notes ===
{{Reflist|group=upper-alpha}}

=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
# {{Cite book|last=Mustafa|first=Seema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iEpuAAAAMAAJ|title=The Lonely Prophet: V.P. Singh, a Political Biography|publisher=New Age International|year=1995 |isbn=8122408095 |oclc=33664491|author-link=Seema Mustafa}}
# {{Cite book|last=Chand|first=Attar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y_1HAAAAMAAJ|title=Prime Minister V.P. Singh, Great Expectations|publisher=H.K. Publishers and Distributors|year=1990a |isbn=9788185318332}}
# {{Cite book|last=Chand|first=Attar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Qy2AAAAIAAJ|title=V.P. Singh and His Politics: New Challenges|publisher=Batra Book Service|year=1990b |isbn=9788185462004}}
# {{Cite book|last=Thakur|first=Janardan|author-link= Janardan Thakur|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NNy1AAAAIAAJ|title=V.P. Singh: The Quest for Power|publisher=Warbler Books|year=1989}}
# {{Cite book|last=Gaur|first=Madan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XL21AAAAIAAJ|title=V.P. Singh: Portrait of a Leader|publisher=Press and Publicity Syndicate of India|year=1990}}
# {{Cite book|last=Rai|first=Ram Bahadur|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qVO5wAEACAAJ|title=Manjil se Jyada Safar|publisher=Rajkamal Prakashan |year=2006|isbn=9788126712373|author-link=Ram Bahadur Rai}}
# {{Cite book|last=Bhargava|first=G.S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bHMbAAAAIAAJ|title=Peristroika in India: VP Singh's Prime Ministership|publisher=Gian Publishing House|year=1990|isbn=9788121203302}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|auto=1|display=V.P. Singh|d=Q315338}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100223210549/http://pmindia.nic.in/pm_vpsingh.htm Prime minister's office]
*Speech opposing the [[Opposition to the Indo-US civilian agreement in India|India-US nuclear deal]] {{YouTube|k6fooRBoJTA|Part I}} {{YouTube|sXoGzdLb0fg|Part II}}, Oct. 2007.
*{{DNA India|V-P-Singh|id=V-P-Singh|name=Vishwanath Pratap Singh}}
*{{OL author}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Banarsi Das]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh|Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh]]|years=1980–1982}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Sripati Mishra]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Pranab Mukherjee]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Finance (India)|Minister of Finance]]|years=1985–1987}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Rajiv Gandhi]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|rows=3|before=[[Rajiv Gandhi]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]]|years=1987}}
{{s-aft|after=[[K. C. Pant|Krishna Chandra Pant]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of India]]|years=1989–1990}}
{{s-aft|rows=3|after={{nowrap|[[Chandra Shekhar]]}}}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=Chairperson of the [[Planning Commission (India)|Planning Commission]]|years=1989–1990}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[K. C. Pant|Krishna Chandra Pant]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]]|years=1989–1990}}
{{s-end}}
{{Portal bar|Politics|Biography|India|border=#FFA500}}{{Navboxes|list={{Leaders of Janata Dal}}
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Vishwanath Pratap}}
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