Former Indian prime minister V P Singh passed away on Thursday (November 27) after suffering from a kidney ailment for several years. According to family sources, the veteran leader died in the afternoon at Apollo Hospitals. V P Singh was also suffering from blood cancer since 1991. The 77-year-old leader was instrumental in toppling the Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress in the 1989 elections. He was the first to form a non-congress coalition government at the Centre. V P Singh held the office of Prime Minister of India from December 2, 1989 - November 10, 1990.

Vishwanath Pratap Singh or V P Singh was appointed the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1980 and he was able to suppress the menace of dacoity that was particularly severe in the rural districts of the south-west. He also served the nation as the cabinet minister for finance and defence. V P Singh made his debut in politics by entering local politics in Allahabad during the Nehru era. After that, he earned a name for himself in the state Congress Party for his unfailing rectitude.

 

V P Singh had also formed a party called Jan Morcha which later merged with Janata Party, Lok Dal and Congress (S) to form Janata Dal in 1988. Popularly known as 'Raja of Manda', V P Singh is survived by his wife Sita Kumari and two sons Ajeya Singh and Abhay Singh. V P Singh was the tenth prime minister of India.