Vishwanath Pratap Singh
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| Image:Vishwanath pratap singh.jpg | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth: | 25 June 1931 |
| Place of Birth: | Allahabad, U.P |
| Prime Minister of India | |
| Tenure Order: | 7th Prime Minister |
| Political party | Janata Dal |
| Took Office: | 2 December 1989 |
| Left Office: | 10 November 1990 |
| Predecessor: | Rajiv Gandhi |
| Successor: | Chandra Shekhar |
Vishwanath Pratap Singh (born 25 June 1931) was the seventh Prime Minister of the Republic of India.
After resigning as Congress cabinet minister under Rajiv Gandhi's government, Singh floated an opposition party Jan Morcha to protest a defense contract. He was elected to Lok Sabha from Allahabad defeating Anil Shastri. On 11 October 1988, the birthday of Jayaprakash Narayan, Janata Dal was formed by merger of Jan Morcha, Janata Party, Lok dal and Congress(s). Janatha Dal fought elections in 1989, alongside BJP and the Communist parties. He became Prime Minister following Gandhi's defeat in that general election. Singh held office for slightly less than a year, from December 2, 1989 - November 10, 1990.
Within few days of taking office, terrorists kidnapped the daughter of the Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (Ex Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir). His government caved into the demand for releasing militants in exchange. His tenure was marred by student protests which university and colleges fought against him for allocating a huge chunk of government jobs based on one's caste, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court of India. V. P. Singh was alienated after his government decided to implement the ideas of Mandal Commission, which favored affirmative action for the lower caste solely based on the caste and not merit. He was ousted when BJP withdrew support to the National Front government after its leader L.K. Advani was arrested during his rath yatra that supported a construction of a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
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