Former PM V.P. Singh succumbs to cancer

Singh became a national political figure when he formed a coalition government with the Left and BJP as his allies in 1989. However, his policies on reservation brought down his government a year later.

Known as 'Mr. Clean,' Singh initially belonged to the secular Congress party and was initially appointed as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in 198 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He was also a close aide of her son Rajiv Gandhi when the latter became prime minister. However, subsequently, he lost favor in the eyes of the party top brass when he took on Rajiv Gandhi on the issue of Bofors scandal during his tenure as a defense minister.

Earlier, as a finance minister, Singh had also taken up cudgels against top Indian industrialists on the issue of tax evasion.

After quitting Congress in 1987, Singh floated his own party, Jan Morcha, along with other disgruntled Congressmen, and together with BJP and the Left, he led Janata Dal (Jan Morcha was merged into Janata Dal) in toppling the Congress government in 1989 elections.

However, a year later, Singh earned the ire of the urban middle class when he decided to implement the recommendations of the Mandal Commission, which suggested that a fixed quota be reserved for the OBCs (other backward classes) in all public sector jobs.

After BJP withdrew their support, Singh's government fell and he was succeeded by Chandrasekhar, who formed a government with the outside support of the Congress party.

Soon thereafter Singh faded away from active political scene and was reportedly battling blood cancer and renal failure since 1991.

Singh is being survived by his wife Sita Kumari and two sons Ajeya Singh and Abhay Singh.

Source: in.ibtimes.com