Kalyan Singh

Singh first became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in June 1991. A year later, the controversial Babri Masjid was demolished by a large group of protesters and Hindu right wing activists aided by right wing political parties.[2]

According to the chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Babri Masjid demolition case, just after becoming chief minister, he, with his colleagues, "visited Ayodhya and took a vow to construct Ram temple there itself."[3] In October 1991, his government acquired 2.77 acres (11,200 m²) of land around the "Babri Masjid Complex" under a government notification for the purpose of "promoting tourism". In July 1992, the Sangh Parivar laid the foundation for the proposed Ram temple by digging around the Babri Masjid and filling the area with 10-foot (3.0 m)-thick layer of reinforced cement concrete. Kalyan Singh's government called it a "platform" for performing bhajans while the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) declared it as the foundation for Ram temple.[4]

Kar Seva was supposed to be conducted in Ayodhya on 6 December 1992 and he filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court that as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, he will not allow any damage to the mosque.[5] However, Kar Sevaks demolished Babri mosque on that day. Taking the moral responsibility, he resigned from the post of Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in the evening. Later, Union government dissolved Uttar Pradesh assembly.

He contested assembly elections to Uttar Pradesh assembly in November 1993 from two constituencies, namely Atrauli and Kasganj and won from both. As Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party combine formed the government in the state under the chief ministership of Mulayam Singh Yadav, even though the BJP won the most votes and increased its vote share[6] Kalyan Singh served as Leader of Opposition in the assembly.

He later served as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh again between September 1997 and November 1999. This government of his "insisted that all primary classes should begin the day with a worship of Bharat Mata and that Vande Mataram should substitute 'Yes Sir' during roll call".[7] In February 1998, his government withdrew cases against those who were associated with Ram Janmabhoomi movement and said that a "Ram temple will be constructed at the same site if the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power at the centre".[8] He also promised to create Uttarakhand within 90 days if BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the Prime Minister.[9]

On 21 October 1997, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) withdrew support to Kalyan Singh government. Kalyan Singh, who was already in touch with disgruntled Indian National Congress Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Naresh Agrawal, contacted him and Agrawal immediately rushed to his support with 21 other MLAs having hurriedly formed a new party, Vinay Sharam the Loktantrik Congress.[10] For this, he was given the energy portfolio in the new cabinet.

On 21 February 1998, his government was dismissed and Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Romesh Bhandari invited Jagdambika Pal to form the new government when the same Naresh Agrawal withdrew support to Kalyan Singh's government and became deputy chief minister in Jagdambika's short-lived government.[11] The order was stayed by a division bench of the Allahabad High Court which directed the status quo ante bellum to be maintained thus reinstating his government.[12] After this decision, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had gone on fast unto death in protest against the governor's order called off his fast and said that the court's verdict was a "well-deserved slap in the face of the governor".[13]

Naresh Agrawal, who had become deputy chief minister in Jagdambika Pal's government, returned to BJP fold after the court order. When Kalyan Singh successfully proved his majority on the floor of the assembly with the support of Agrawal as well as some BSP rebels, Agrawal claimed that he had succeeded in proving that only his party could provide a stable government.[10] The BSP rebels were to be rewarded with ministerial berths[14] and this was duly done within days.

He left the party in December 1999 and rejoined in January 2004.[15] He contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections on the BJP ticket from Bulandshahar. Before the LokSabha election of 2009 he left BJP and contest election from Etah LokSabha seat as an independent and subsequently won it.

It has been reported that Kalyan Singh is expected to join BJP and is to be appointed as a Vice-President of Bharatiya Janata Party.[16] His son Rajveer Singh have also been a Member of Legislative Assembly for a term.

The Liberhan Commission gave clean chit to then PM Rao but criticized CM Kalyan Singh and his government for pre-planned mannered events, misuse of power, attracting youth for support, and allowing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to run the state government directly.

Singh resigned his post and party membership on 20 January 2009.[17] After meetings with Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh, Singh announced that he would campaign for the SP in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.[18] Meanwhile, his son Rajveer Singh, one of the main reasons of his disenchantment with the BJP, joined the Samajwadi Party.[19]

On 14 November 2009, Mulayam Singh Yadav said that the poor performance of the party at the Firozabad Lok Sabha by-election was due to the loss of Muslim support because of Kalyan Singh.[20] In January 2010, he announced the formation of a new Hindutva-oriented political party, the Jan Kranti Party, but chose to take the role of patron while his son became the leader.[21]

Singh was sworn in as Governor of Rajasthan on 4 September 2014.[22]