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VP Singh: ‘Raja nahi fakir hai, desh ki taqdeer hai…’ When Vishwanath Pratap Singh became the Prime Minister in December 1989, this slogan became synonymous with him. Before assuming the chair of the PM, VP Singh had handled all the important ministries from the Chief Minister of a big state like Uttar Pradesh to the Center, but could not last long. His tenure as the Prime Minister was only for 11 months. And this prediction was already made by his family astrologer.( true)
Father was an astrologer, but VP Singh was not interested: ‘King of Manda’ VP Singh’s family was deeply interested in astrology and palmistry. Especially his father and elder brother, both had unwavering faith in astrology. Father was also a good astrologer. Debashish Mukherjee writes in his book ‘The Disruptor: How Vishwanath Pratap Singh Shook India’ that VP Singh’s family followed astrology. He used to take the advice of the family astrologer for every small and big task, but VP Singh himself had no interest in it. He used to say, ‘Whatever predictions these people make, most of them prove to be wrong…’.
The astrologer’s prediction came true: But an occasion came when the prediction made by VP Singh’s family astrologer proved to be absolutely true. Debashish Mukherjee, quoting VP Singh’s wife Sita Kumari Singh, writes, “Our family astrologer had predicted that my husband would reach many high positions, but would not be able to hold on to any for long… and that is exactly what happened.” .
In the 1980s, VP Singh’s political career gained momentum. Was the Chief Minister of UP. He handled important portfolios like Commerce, Finance and Defense Ministry at the Center and then got the throne of PM. But in all the posts, the entire tenure was only for 10 years.
Journey from CM to PM within 10 months: Three stories related to VP Singh’s political life are most famous. Resignation from the post of Chief Minister of UP, direct fight with Rajiv Gandhi and implementation of Mandal Commission recommendations while he was Prime Minister, through which the path for OBC reservation was opened. VP Singh spent most of his political time with Congress and became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh while being in Congress.
In those days crime was at its peak in Uttar Pradesh. Especially, everyone was troubled by the terror of the dacoits. VP Singh promised to eliminate dacoits and curb crime within 2 years. But this did not happen. On the contrary, his judge brother was killed by the dacoits. After this VP Singh resigned.
After the assassination of Indira Gandhi, when Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister, he first made VP Singh the Finance Minister and then gave him a huge responsibility like the Defense Ministry. But on the issue of Bofors, VP Singh openly opened a front against Rajiv Gandhi and later separated from the Congress and formed his own party in the year 1988 by the name of ‘Rashtriya Morcha’. Lok Sabha elections were held in the very next year, i.e. in 1989.
And then the journey to the post of PM… No party got majority in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections. A coalition government was formed and VP Singh became the Prime Minister. He implemented the recommendations of the Mandal Commission and opened the way for OBC reservation. This recommendation was gathering dust for 10 years. As soon as the Mandal Commission report was implemented, a section opened a front against VP Singh. He was able to stay on the chair of the Prime Minister for only 11 months.
