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{{Short description|Prime Minister of India from 1990 to 1991}}
{{short description|Prime Minister of India from 1990 to 1991<!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->}}
{{distinguish|Chandra Shekhar (Uttarakhand politician)}}
{{distinguish|Chandra Shekhar (Uttarakhand politician)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2013}}
Line 5: Line 5:
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Chandra Shekhar
| name                = Chandra Shekhar
| alt                = Chandra Shekhar
| honorific_suffix    = 'बाबूसाहेब'
| image              = Chandra Shekhar Singh 2010 stamp of India.jpg
| image              = Chandra Shekhar Singh 2010 stamp alt.jpg
| image_size          =  
| image_size          = 220px
| caption            =  
| caption            = Shekhar on a 2010 postage stamp of India
| office              = 8th [[Prime Minister of India]]
| office              = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Prime Minister of India]]
| president          = [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman|R. Venkataraman]] | vicepresident = [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]
| president          = [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman]]
| deputy              = [[Chaudhary Devi Lal]]
| deputy              = [[Devi Lal|Chaudhary Devi Lal]]
| term_start          = {{Start date|1990|11|10|df=yes}}
| term_start          = 10 November 1990
| term_end            = {{End date|1991|06|21|df=yes}}
| term_end            = 1 June 1991
| predecessor        = [[V. P. Singh]]
| predecessor        = [[V. P. Singh|Vishwanath Pratap Singh]]
| successor          = [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]
| successor          = [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]
| office2             = [[Janata Party|President of the Janata Party]]
| office5             = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[President (corporate title)|President]] of the [[Janata Party]]
| term_start2         = {{Start date|1977||}}
| term_start5         = {{Start date|1977||}}
| term_end2           = {{End date|1988||}}
| term_end5           = {{End date|1988||}}
| predecessor2       = ''Position established''
| predecessor5       = ''Office established''
| successor2         = [[Ajit Singh (politician)|Ajit Singh]]
| successor5         = [[Ajit Singh (politician, born 1939)|Ajit Singh]]
| office3            = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| office3            = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| term_start3        = {{Start date|1989||}}
| term_start3        = 2 December 1989
| term_end3          = {{End date|2007||}}
| term_end3          = 8 July 2007
| constituency3      = [[Ballia (Lok Sabha constituency)|Ballia]]
| constituency3      = [[Ballia (Lok Sabha constituency)|Ballia, Uttar Pradesh]]
| predecessor3        = [[Jagannath Chowdhary]]
| predecessor3        = [[Jagannath Chowdhary]]
| successor3          = [[Neeraj Shekhar]]
| successor3          = [[Neeraj Shekhar]]
| term_start4        = {{Start date|1977||}}
| term_start4        = 22 March 1977
| term_end4          = {{End date|1984||}}
| term_end4          = 31 October 1984
| constituency4      = [[Ballia (Lok Sabha constituency)|Ballia]]
| constituency4      = [[Ballia (Lok Sabha constituency)|Ballia, Uttar Pradesh]]
| predecessor4        = Chandrika Prasad
| predecessor4        = [[Chandrika Prasad]]
| successor4          = [[Jagannath Chowdhary]]
| successor4          = Jagannath Chowdhary
| office5             = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
| office2             = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
| term_start5         = {{Start date|1962||}}
| term_start2         = 3 April 1962
| term_end5           = {{End date|1977||}}
| term_end2           = 22 March 1977
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|1927|04|17|df=y}}
| constituency2      = [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh|Uttar Pradesh]]
| birth_place        = [[Ibrahimpatti]], [[Ballia]], [[United Provinces of British India|United Provinces]], [[British India]] <br /> {{small|(present-day [[Uttar Pradesh]], India)}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1927|04|17|df=y}}
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|2015|08|09|1927|04|17|df=yes}}
| birth_place        = [[Ibrahimpatti]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh]], [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|British India]]
| death_place        = New Delhi, India
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2007|07|08|1927|04|17|df=yes}}
| party              = [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)]]<br />{{small|(1990 – 2007)}}
| death_place        = [[New Delhi]], [[Delhi]], India
| otherparty          = {{Unbulleted_list|[[Congress Socialist Party]]<br />{{small|(Before 1964)}}|[[Indian National Congress]]<br />{{small|(1964 – 1975)}}|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]<br />{{small|(1975 – 1977)}}|[[Janata Party]]<br />{{small|(1977 – 1988)}}|[[Janata Dal]]<br />{{small|(1988 – 1990)}}}}
|module={{Infobox person|embed=yes|monuments=[[Raj Ghat and associated memorials|Jannayak Sthal]]}}
| alma_mater          = [[Allahabad University]]
| party              = [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)]]<br />{{small|(1990–2007)}}
| children            = 2 (including [[Neeraj Shekhar]] and Yogendra Singh)
| otherparty          = {{Plainlist|
* [[Congress Socialist Party]] {{small|(before 1964)}}
* [[Indian National Congress]] {{small|(1964–1975)}}
* [[Independent politician|Independent]] {{small|(1975–1977)}}
* [[Janata Party]] {{small|(1977–1988)}}
* [[Janata Dal]] {{small|(1988–1990)}}
}}
| alma_mater          = [[Allahabad University]] ([[Master of Arts|M.A]])
| spouse              = Duja Devi
| spouse              = Duja Devi
| children            = 2 (including [[Neeraj Shekhar]])
| signature          = Chandrashekhar-Prime-Minister.jpg
| signature          = Chandrashekhar-Prime-Minister.jpg
| vicepresident      = [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]
| order              = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->
| order1              = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->
| order2              = <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->
}}
}}
'''Chandra Shekhar''' ( 17 April 1927 – 9 August 2015) was an Indian politician who served as the [[List of Prime Ministers of India|8th]] [[Prime Minister of India]], between 10 November 1990 and 21 June 1991. He headed a minority government of a breakaway faction of the [[Janata Dal]] with outside support from the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref name="NYT">{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/10/world/rival-of-singh-becomes-india-premier.html?pagewanted=1 | title=Rival of Singh Becomes India Premier | publisher=[[The New York Times]] | work=Sanjoy Hazarika | date=10 November 1990 | access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/11/world/socialist-is-installed-as-india-s-eighth-prime-minister.html | title=Socialist Is Installed as India's Eleventh Prime Minister | publisher=[[The New York Times]] | work=Sanjoy Hazarika | date=11 November 1990 | access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref>
'''Chandra Shekhar''' (17 April 1927 – 8 July 2007), also known as '''Jananayak''', was an Indian politician and the <!-- Do NOT add counts or ordinals, as per [[WP:CONSENSUS]] -->[[Prime Minister of India|prime minister of India]], between 10 November 1990 and 21 June 1991. He headed a minority government of a breakaway faction of the [[Janata Dal]] with outside support from the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref name="NYT">{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/10/world/rival-of-singh-becomes-india-premier.html?pagewanted=1 | title=Rival of Singh Becomes India Premier | work=[[The New York Times]] | author=Sanjoy Hazarika | date=10 November 1990 | access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref> He was the second Indian Prime Minister who had never held any prior government office.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/11/world/socialist-is-installed-as-india-s-eighth-prime-minister.html | title=Socialist Is Installed as India's Eleventh Prime Minister | work=[[The New York Times]] | author=Sanjoy Hazarika | date=11 November 1990 | access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="c811">{{cite web | title=Denied Ticket, What's Next For Varun Gandhi? Mother Maneka Gandhi Says... | website=NDTV.com | date=22 February 2019 | url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/denied-2024-lok-sabha-elections-ticket-whats-next-for-varun-gandhi-mother-maneka-gandhi-says-5638013#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll | access-date=11 May 2024}}</ref><ref name="g390">{{cite web | title=Ephemeral Governments | website=TheDailyGuardian | date=11 May 2024 | url=https://thedailyguardian.com/ephemeral-governments/ | access-date=11 May 2024}}</ref>


His government was largely seen as a "puppet"<ref name="WC">{{cite book|title=The Working Class|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_b6KKd8wut4C|access-date=20 December 2018|year=1990|publisher=Centre of Indian Trade Unions|page=86}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Puppet on a String|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tWVOAQAAIAAJ|date=October 1990|publisher=Far Eastern Economic Review|page=6}}</ref> and "lame duck", and the government was formed with the fewest party [[Member of Parliament|MPs]] in the [[Lok Sabha]].<ref name="IT">{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19901215-chandra-shekhar-exploits-fears-weaknesses-of-congressi-and-janata-dals-813388-1990-12-15 | title=Chandra Shekhar exploits fears, weaknesses of Congress(I) and Janata Dal(S) | publisher=[[India Today]] | work=Inderjit Badhwar,.Prabhu Chawla | date=15 December 1990 | access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xd7PAAAAIAAJ | title=The Interim Man | publisher=[[The Economist]] | year=1990 | pages=42}}</ref> His government could not pass the budget<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/1991-the-untold-story/article14513325.ece | title=1991, the untold story | publisher=The Hindu | work=[[Yashwant Sinha]] | date=29 July 2016 | access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref> at a crucial time when [[Moody's Investors Service|Moody]] had downgraded India, and it further went down after the budget was not passed, and global credit-rating agencies further downgraded India from investment grade, making it impossible to even get short-term loans, and in no position to give any commitment to reform, the [[World Bank]] and [[IMF]] stopped their assistance. Shekhar had to authorise mortgaging of gold to avoid default of payment, and this action came in for particular criticism, as it was done secretly in the midst of the election.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/How-the-economy-found-its-feet/article14506275.ece | title=How the economy found its feet | publisher=The Hindu | work=Deepak Nayar | date=18 October 2016 | access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/in-fact-how-govts-pledged-gold-to-pull-economy-back-from-the-brink/ | title=In fact: How govts pledged gold to pull economy back from the brink | publisher=The Indian Express | work=Shaji Vikraman | date=5 April 2017 | access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="CorbridgeHarriss2013">{{cite book|author1=Stuart Corbridge|author2=John Harriss|title=Reinventing India: Liberalization, Hindu Nationalism and Popular Democracy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ERgoAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT144|access-date=20 December 2018|date=28 May 2013|publisher=Wiley|isbn=978-0-7456-6604-4|pages=144–}}</ref> The [[1991 Indian economic crisis]] and the [[assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]] plunged his government into crisis. But according to [[Subramanian Swamy]], finance minister [[Yashwant Sinha]] mortgaged gold reserves without informing the Commerce Ministry (which was headed by Swamy).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=16 December 2008 |title=Welcome to www.Janata Party.org |url=http://www.janataparty.org/articledetail.asp?rowid=15 |access-date=24 December 2021 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216042039/http://www.janataparty.org/articledetail.asp?rowid=15 |archive-date=16 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> But granting the permission for US military planes to refuel in Indian airports during the [[Gulf War]] improved the Prime Minister's image with the west.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Crossette|first1=Barbara|last2=Times|first2=Special To the New York|date=13 November 1990|title=Man in The News; India's Freewheeling Leader: Chandra Shekhar|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/13/world/man-in-the-news-india-s-freewheeling-leader-chandra-shekhar.html|access-date=26 December 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
His government was formed with the fewest party [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MPs]] in the [[Lok Sabha]].<ref name="IT">{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19901215-chandra-shekhar-exploits-fears-weaknesses-of-congressi-and-janata-dals-813388-1990-12-15 | title=Chandra Shekhar exploits fears, weaknesses of Congress(I) and Janata Dal(S) | work=[[India Today]] | author=Inderjit Badhwar,.Prabhu Chawla | date=15 December 1990 | access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xd7PAAAAIAAJ | title=The Interim Man | newspaper=[[The Economist]] | year=1990 | pages=42}}</ref> His government could not pass the budget<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/1991-the-untold-story/article14513325.ece | title=1991, the untold story | work=The Hindu | author=[[Yashwant Sinha]] | date=29 July 2016 | access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref> at a crucial time when [[Moody's Investors Service|Moody's]] had downgraded India's credit rating, after Shekhar's government was unable to pass the budget, global credit-rating agencies further downgraded India from investment grade, making it impossible to even get short-term loans, and in no position to give any commitment to reform, the [[World Bank]] and [[IMF]] stopped their assistance. Shekhar had to authorise the mortgaging of gold to avoid default of payment, and this action came in for particular criticism, as it was done secretly in the midst of the election.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/How-the-economy-found-its-feet/article14506275.ece | title=How the economy found its feet | work=The Hindu | author=Deepak Nayar | date=18 October 2016 | access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/in-fact-how-govts-pledged-gold-to-pull-economy-back-from-the-brink/ | title=In fact: How govts pledged gold to pull economy back from the brink | work=The Indian Express | author=Shaji Vikraman | date=5 April 2017 | access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="CorbridgeHarriss2013">{{cite book|author1=Stuart Corbridge|author2=John Harriss|title=Reinventing India: Liberalization, Hindu Nationalism and Popular Democracy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ERgoAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT144|access-date=20 December 2018|date=28 May 2013|publisher=Wiley|isbn=978-0-7456-6604-4|pages=144–}}</ref> The [[1991 Indian economic crisis]] and the [[assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]] plunged his government into crisis.<ref name="j303">{{cite web | last=| first=| title=Remembering India's Former PM Chandra Shekhar Singh On His Death Anniversary | website=Free Press Journal | date=7 July 2023 | url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/chandra-shekhar-singh-death-anniversary-all-about-indias-8th-pm | access-date=6 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="s901">{{cite web | last=Javaid | first=Arfa | title=Chandra Shekhar Singh Biography: Birth, Education, Political Career, Death, and more about 8th Prime Minister of India | website=Jagranjosh.com | date=8 July 2021 | url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/chandra-shekhar-singh-biography-1625727635-1 | access-date=6 April 2025}}</ref> Granting the permission for US military planes to refuel at Indian airports during the [[Gulf War]] improved the Prime Minister's image with the West.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=16 December 2008 |title=Welcome to www.Janata Party.org |url=http://www.janataparty.org/articledetail.asp?rowid=15 |access-date=24 December 2021 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216042039/http://www.janataparty.org/articledetail.asp?rowid=15 |archive-date=16 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Crossette|first1=Barbara|date=13 November 1990|title=Man in The News; India's Freewheeling Leader: Chandra Shekhar|language=en-US|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/13/world/man-in-the-news-india-s-freewheeling-leader-chandra-shekhar.html|access-date=26 December 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
 
=== Early years and education ===
=== Early years and Education ===
Chandra Shekhar was born on 17 April 1927 in a [[Rajput]] family at [[Ibrahimpatti]], a village in Ballia, [[Uttar Pradesh]]. He came from a farming background.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YY4I36ZbJ7gC&pg=PA59|title=The Long March: Profile of Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar|publisher=Mittal|first=Attar |last=Chand |year=1991 |isbn=978-8-17099-272-1|page=59}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ghai|first=Rajat|date=7 May 2014|title=The office of Prime Minister: A largely north Indian upper-caste, Hindu affair|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/the-office-of-prime-minister-a-largely-north-indian-upper-caste-hindu-affair-114050700846_1.html|access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-09 |title=How Thakurs have dominated UP politics since Independence |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/how-the-thakurs-have-dominated-up-politics-since-independence-yogi-adityanath-6717581/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (graduate) degree at Satish Chandra P.G. College. He attended [[Allahabad University]], obtaining his master's degree in political science in 1950.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dubey |first=Scharada |date=2009 |title=Movers and Shakers Prime Minister of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2dgqNH6uKUsC&pg=PT67 |publisher=Westland |isbn=9788189975548 |access-date=7 June 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He was known as a firebrand student leader in student politics and started his political career with [[Ram Manohar Lohia]]. After completing his graduation, he became active in socialist politics.<ref>The rise of Socialist politics under Chandra Shekhar. ''In the Janata-coalition government that came to power in the aftermath of that election, Chandra Shekhar willingly gave up his claim to a Cabinet ministerial role that he was offered in favour of his fellow-Young Turk Mohan Dharia. That was just one instance of Chandra Shekhar's deep commitment and loyalty towards his friends, which is a recurring theme in the book. A rare occurrence in an opportunistic political world—Chandra Shekhar was also upright and forthright, not prone to hypocrisy like the commonplace politicians. Sometimes his straight talk stunned even seasoned politicians like Ram Manohar Lohia and Indira Gandhi.''
Chandra Shekhar was born on 17 April 1927 in a [[Rajput]] family at [[Ibrahimpatti]], a village in [[Uttar Pradesh]]. He came from a farming family.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YY4I36ZbJ7gC&pg=PA59|title=The Long March: Profile of Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar|publisher=Mittal|first=Attar |last=Chand |year=1991 |isbn=978-8-17099-272-1|page=59}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ghai|first=Rajat|date=7 May 2014|title=The office of Prime Minister: A largely north Indian upper-caste, Hindu affair|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/the-office-of-prime-minister-a-largely-north-indian-upper-caste-hindu-affair-114050700846_1.html|access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref> He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (graduate) degree at Satish Chandra P.G. College. He attended [[Allahabad University]], obtaining his master's degree in political science in 1950.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dubey |first=Scharada |date=2009 |title=Movers and Shakers Prime Minister of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2dgqNH6uKUsC&pg=PT67 |publisher=Westland |isbn= 9788189975548|access-date=7 June 2015 }}</ref> He was known as a firebrand in student politics and started his political career with Dr. [[Ram Manohar Lohia]]. After completing his graduation, he became active in socialist politics.<ref>The rise of Socialist politics under Chandra Shekhar. ''In the Janata-coalition government that came to power in the aftermath of that election, Chandra Shekhar willingly gave up his claim to a Cabinet ministerial role that he was offered in favour of his fellow-Young Turk Mohan Dharia. That was just one instance of Chandra Shekhar’s deep commitment and loyalty towards his friends which is a recurring theme in the book. A rare occurrence in an opportunistic political world—Chandra Shekhar was also upright and forthright, not prone to hypocrisy like the commonplace politicians. Sometimes his straight talk stunned even seasoned politicians like Ram Manohar Lohia and Indira Gandhi.''


</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Buy Chandra Shekhar :The Last Icon of Ideological Politics Book at 32% off.|url=https://paytmmall.com/chandra-shekhar-the-last-icon-of-ideological-politics-9789353334017_30212-pdp|access-date=8 September 2020|website=Paytm Mall|language=en}}</ref>
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=== Family ===
=== Family ===
Chandra Shekhar married Duja Devi.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YY4I36ZbJ7gC&pg=PA13|title=The Long March: Profile of Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar|publisher=Mittal|first=Attar |last=Chand |year=1991 |isbn=978-8-17099-272-1|page=13}}</ref> He had two sons with her, Pankaj Shekhar Singh and [[Neeraj Shekhar]].
Chandra Shekhar married [[Duja Devi]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YY4I36ZbJ7gC&pg=PA13|title=The Long March: Profile of Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar|publisher=Mittal|first=Attar |last=Chand |year=1991 |isbn=978-8-17099-272-1|page=13}}</ref> Duja Devi Degree College, founded in 1999 in [[Ballia district]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], is named after her.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://dujadevidegreecollege.in/about-us.aspx |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Duja Devi Degree College Rajauli, Sahatwar, Ballia (U.P.)}}</ref>
 
He had two sons with her, Pankaj Shekhar and [[Neeraj Shekhar]].


== Political life ==
== Political life ==
Line 64: Line 77:
=== Start of career ===
=== Start of career ===
He joined the socialist movement and was elected secretary of the district [[Praja Socialist Party]] (PSP), Ballia. Within a year, he was elected joint secretary of the PSP's State unit in Uttar Pradesh. In 1955–56, he took over as general secretary of the party in the State. His career as a parliamentarian began with his election to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in 1962. He came under the spell of [[Acharya Narendra Dev]], a fiery Socialist leader at the beginning of his political career. From 1962 to 1977, Shekhar was a member of [[Rajya Sabha]], the Upper house of the [[Parliament of India]]. He was elected to [[Rajya Sabha]] from Uttar Pradesh on 3 April 1962 as an independent candidate and completed his tenure on 2 April 1968. After this, he was re-elected twice to [[Rajya Sabha]] from Uttar Pradesh as an INC candidate from 3 April 1968 to 2 April 1974 and from 3 April 1974 to 2 April 1980. He resigned from [[Rajya Sabha]] on 2 March 1977 after he had been elected to [[Lok Sabha]] from [[Ballia]]. When the [[The Emergency (India)|emergency]] was declared, even though he was a Congress party politician, he was arrested and sent to [[Patiala]] jail.<ref>Movers and Shakers Prime Minister of India by Scharada Dubey – 2009
He joined the socialist movement and was elected secretary of the district [[Praja Socialist Party]] (PSP), Ballia. Within a year, he was elected joint secretary of the PSP's State unit in Uttar Pradesh. In 1955–56, he took over as general secretary of the party in the State. His career as a parliamentarian began with his election to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in 1962. He came under the spell of [[Acharya Narendra Dev]], a fiery Socialist leader at the beginning of his political career. From 1962 to 1977, Shekhar was a member of [[Rajya Sabha]], the Upper house of the [[Parliament of India]]. He was elected to [[Rajya Sabha]] from Uttar Pradesh on 3 April 1962 as an independent candidate and completed his tenure on 2 April 1968. After this, he was re-elected twice to [[Rajya Sabha]] from Uttar Pradesh as an INC candidate from 3 April 1968 to 2 April 1974 and from 3 April 1974 to 2 April 1980. He resigned from [[Rajya Sabha]] on 2 March 1977 after he had been elected to [[Lok Sabha]] from [[Ballia]]. When the [[The Emergency (India)|emergency]] was declared, even though he was a Congress party politician, he was arrested and sent to [[Patiala]] jail.<ref>Movers and Shakers Prime Minister of India by Scharada Dubey – 2009
During the emergency, Chandra Shekhar was among the very few individuals from the ruling Congress party to be sent to jail.</ref>  
During the emergency, Chandra Shekhar was among the very few individuals from the ruling Congress party to be sent to jail.</ref>


===Join Congress===
===Join Congress===
Chandra Shekhar was a prominent leader of the socialists. He joined [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] in 1964. From 1962 to 1967, he was a member of the [[Rajya Sabha]]. He first entered the [[Lok Sabha]] in 1977. He came to be known as a 'young Turk' for his conviction and courage in the fight against the vested interests. The other 'young Turks', who formed the 'ginger group' in the Congress in the fight for egalitarian policies, included<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sjpchandrashekhar.org/samajwadijantaparty-founder-chandra-shekhar/ |title=Chandra Shekhar – Samajwadi janta party |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531230455/http://www.sjpchandrashekhar.org/samajwadijantaparty-founder-chandra-shekhar/ |archive-date=31 May 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> leaders like [[Feroze Gandhi]], [[Satyendra Narayan Sinha]], [[Mohan Dharia]] and [[Ram Dhan]]. As a member of the Congress Party, he vehemently criticised Indira Gandhi for her declaration of emergency in 1975. Chandrashekhar was arrested during the emergency and sent to prison along with other "young turks".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kapoor|first1=Coomi|title=The Emergency: A Personal History, Chapter 4|date=2015|publisher=Penguin/Viking|isbn=9789352141197|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ABbLCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT6}}</ref>
Chandra Shekhar was a prominent leader of the socialists. He joined [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] in 1964. From 1962 to 1967, he was a member of the [[Rajya Sabha]]. He first entered the [[Lok Sabha]] in 1977. He came to be known as a 'young Turk' for his conviction and courage in the fight against the vested interests. The other 'young Turks', who formed the 'ginger group' in the Congress in the fight for egalitarian policies, included<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sjpchandrashekhar.org/samajwadijantaparty-founder-chandra-shekhar/ |title=Chandra Shekhar – Samajwadi janta party |access-date=15 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531230455/http://www.sjpchandrashekhar.org/samajwadijantaparty-founder-chandra-shekhar/ |archive-date=31 May 2018 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> leaders like [[Feroze Gandhi]], [[Satyendra Narayan Sinha]], [[Mohan Dharia]] and [[Ram Dhan]]. As a member of the Congress Party, he vehemently criticised Indira Gandhi for her declaration of emergency in 1975. Chandrashekhar was arrested during the emergency and sent to prison along with other "young turks".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kapoor|first1=Coomi|author-link1=Coomi Kapoor|title=The Emergency: A Personal History, Chapter 4|date=2015|publisher=Penguin/Viking|isbn=9789352141197|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ABbLCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT6}}</ref>


=== Bharat Yatra (1983) ===
=== Bharat Yatra (1983) ===
Chandra Shekhar went on a nationwide ''[[padayatra]]'' in 1983 from Kanyakumari to New Delhi,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-chandra-shekhar/|title=Shri Chandra Shekhar}}</ref> to know the country better, which he claimed gave jitters to Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thewire.in/politics/the-parallels-between-congresss-bharat-jodo-yatra-and-ex-pm-chandra-shekhars-padayatra|title=The Parallels Between Congress's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and Ex-PM Chandra Shekhar's 'Padayatra'}}</ref> He was called a "Young Turk".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/bharat-yatri-long-march-short-run-chandra-shekhar-8141578/|title=Rewind & Replay That other 'Bharat Yatri': The long march, but short run, of Chandra Shekhar}}</ref> He travelled nearly 4,260 km and nearly six months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/photos-by-tumari-man-on-display-at-pms-museum-in-new-delhi/article65373284.ece|title=Photos by Tumari man on display at PMs' Museum in New Delhi|website=[[The Hindu]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/article30192288.ece|title=A rebel's journey}}</ref> Chandra Shekhar started his Bharat Yatra from [[Kanyakumari]] on 6, the same day that his party, [[Janata Party]] was swept to power in [[1983 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|Karnataka]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19830215-janata-party-chief-chandra-shekhar-embarks-on-bharat-yatra-from-kanyakumari-to-new-delhi-770459-2013-07-26|title=Janata Party chief Chandra Shekhar embarks on Bharat Yatra from Kanyakumari to New Delhi}}</ref> He finished his march at [[Raj Ghat and associated memorials|Rajghat]] in New Delhi on 25 June, the eighth anniversary of the declaration of the [[The Emergency (India)|Emergency]] and also the day India won the [[1983 Cricket World Cup Final|Cricket World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19830715-janata-party-president-chandra-shekhar-completes-his-4000-km-bharat-yatra-770814-2013-07-18|title=Janata Party President Chandra Shekhar completes his 4,000 km Bharat Yatra}}</ref>
Chandra Shekhar went on a nationwide ''[[padayatra]]'' in 1983 from Kanyakumari to New Delhi,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-chandra-shekhar/|title=Shri Chandra Shekhar}}</ref> to know the country better, which he claimed gave jitters to Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thewire.in/politics/the-parallels-between-congresss-bharat-jodo-yatra-and-ex-pm-chandra-shekhars-padayatra|title=The Parallels Between Congress's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and Ex-PM Chandra Shekhar's 'Padayatra'}}</ref> He was called a "Young Turk".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/bharat-yatri-long-march-short-run-chandra-shekhar-8141578/|title=Rewind & Replay That other 'Bharat Yatri': The long march, but short run, of Chandra Shekhar|date=9 September 2022 }}</ref> He travelled nearly 4,260&nbsp;km and nearly six months.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/photos-by-tumari-man-on-display-at-pms-museum-in-new-delhi/article65373284.ece|title=Photos by Tumari man on display at PMs' Museum in New Delhi|website=[[The Hindu]] |date=3 May 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/article30192288.ece|title=A rebel's journey|date=26 July 2007 }}</ref> Chandra Shekhar started his Bharat Yatra from [[Kanyakumari]] on 6, the same day that his party, [[Janata Party]] was swept to power in [[1983 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19830215-janata-party-chief-chandra-shekhar-embarks-on-bharat-yatra-from-kanyakumari-to-new-delhi-770459-2013-07-26|title=Janata Party chief Chandra Shekhar embarks on Bharat Yatra from Kanyakumari to New Delhi|date=26 July 2013 }}</ref> He finished his march at [[Raj Ghat and associated memorials|Rajghat]] in New Delhi on 25 June, the eighth anniversary of the declaration of the [[The Emergency (India)|Emergency]] and also the day India won the [[1983 Cricket World Cup Final|Cricket World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19830715-janata-party-president-chandra-shekhar-completes-his-4000-km-bharat-yatra-770814-2013-07-18|title=Janata Party President Chandra Shekhar completes his 4,000 km Bharat Yatra|date=18 July 2013 }}</ref>


Chandra Shekhar established Bharat Yatra Centres in various parts of the country and set up a Bharat Yatra Trust in [[Gurugram Airstrip|Bhondsi village]] in Haryana's Gurgaon to focus on rural development.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19910630-bharat-yatra-trust-prime-minister-chandra-shekhar-expands-his-real-estate-empire-814477-1991-06-29|title=Bharat Yatra Trust: Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar expands his real estate empire}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/remembering-chandrashekhar-soldier-of-the-socialist-cause/story-WESCEuZiAssecZ3cfv492O.html|title=Remembering Chandrashekhar: soldier of the socialist cause}}</ref>  "Bharat Yatra Kendra" "Bhondsi ashram" was set up by the Chandra Shekhar in 1983 on 600 acre of [[panchayat]] land,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19910115-bhondsi-ashram-ecologists-foreigners-bonfires-make-for-high-farce-813902-1991-01-14|title=Bhondsi Ashram: Ecologists, foreigners, bonfires make for high farce}}</ref> where godman [[Chandraswami]] and godman's associate [[Adnan Khashoggi]] (a Saudi Arabian billionaire international arms dealer embroiled in various scandals) use to visit him.<ref name=bhond7>1996, [https://books.google.com/books?id=l05DAAAAYAAJ "India Today"], - Volume 21, Issues 7-12, p. 122.</ref><ref name=bhond8>[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/visit-of-notorious-middleman-adnan-khashoggi-leaves-a-trail-of-perplexing-questions/1/317902.html "Creating a stir."], [[India Today]], 28 February 1991.</ref><ref name=bhond11>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/gurgaon/an-escape-to-nature-in-the-backyard-of-gurgaon/story-lasdCPsyY2jIS8UXIwV2dP.html "An escape to nature in the backyard of Gurgao."], [[Hindustan Times]], 20 June 2017.</ref> Before 2002, some of the government land of the ashram was taken back by the [[Government of Haryana]] on the instructions of then Chief Minister [[Om Prakash Chautala]] (in office 1989-91 and 1999-2004).<ref name=bhond9>2003, [https://books.google.com/books?id=g_EvAQAAIAAJ "Outlook."], Volume 43, Issues 47-51, p. 102.</ref> In 2002, [[Supreme Court of India]] returned most of the land, barring some land, to the Bhondsi [[gram panchayat]].<ref name=bhond10>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/name-ashram-after-former-pm-vardhan/articleshow/59185541.cms "Name ashram after former PM Chandra Shekhar: Harsh Vardhan.], [[Times of India]], 17 June 2017.</ref>
Chandra Shekhar established Bharat Yatra Centres in various parts of the country and set up a Bharat Yatra Trust in [[Gurugram Airstrip|Bhondsi village]] in Haryana's Gurgaon to focus on rural development.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19910630-bharat-yatra-trust-prime-minister-chandra-shekhar-expands-his-real-estate-empire-814477-1991-06-29|title=Bharat Yatra Trust: Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar expands his real estate empire|date=30 June 1991 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/remembering-chandrashekhar-soldier-of-the-socialist-cause/story-WESCEuZiAssecZ3cfv492O.html|title=Remembering Chandrashekhar: soldier of the socialist cause|date=10 July 2007 |work=Hindustan Times}}</ref>  "Bharat Yatra Kendra" "Bhondsi ashram" was set up by the Chandra Shekhar in 1983 on 600 acre of [[Panchayati raj in India|panchayat]] land,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19910115-bhondsi-ashram-ecologists-foreigners-bonfires-make-for-high-farce-813902-1991-01-14|title=Bhondsi Ashram: Ecologists, foreigners, bonfires make for high farce|date=15 January 1991 }}</ref> where godman [[Chandraswami]] and godman's associate [[Adnan Khashoggi]] (a Saudi Arabian billionaire international arms dealer embroiled in various scandals) use to visit him.<ref name=bhond7>1996, [https://books.google.com/books?id=l05DAAAAYAAJ "India Today"], – Volume 21, Issues 7-12, p. 122.</ref><ref name=bhond8>[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19910228-visit-of-notorious-middleman-adnan-khashoggi-leaves-a-trail-of-perplexing-questions-814075-1991-02-27 "Creating a stir."], [[India Today]], 28 February 1991.</ref><ref name=bhond11>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/gurgaon/an-escape-to-nature-in-the-backyard-of-gurgaon/story-lasdCPsyY2jIS8UXIwV2dP.html "An escape to nature in the backyard of Gurgao."], ''[[Hindustan Times]]'', 20 June 2017.</ref> Before 2002, some of the government land of the ashram was taken back by the [[Government of Haryana]] on the instructions of then Chief Minister [[Om Prakash Chautala]] (in office 1989–91 and 1999–2004).<ref name=bhond9>2003, [https://books.google.com/books?id=g_EvAQAAIAAJ "Outlook."], Volume 43, Issues 47-51, p. 102.</ref> In 2002, [[Supreme Court of India]] returned most of the land, barring some land, to the Bhondsi [[gram panchayat]].<ref name=bhond10>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/name-ashram-after-former-pm-vardhan/articleshow/59185541.cms "Name ashram after former PM Chandra Shekhar: Harsh Vardhan.], ''[[Times of India]]'', 17 June 2017.</ref>


===In Janata Party===
===In Janata Party===
Chandrasekhar was jailed during the emergency and after, he became the President of [[Janata Party]]. In the parliamentary elections, [[Janata Party]]  formed the government after the [[1977 Indian general election]] headed by [[Morarji Desai]]. However the party lost the 1980 elections and were routed in [[1984 Indian general election]] winning just 10 seats and Chandrasekhar losing his own [[Ballia (Lok Sabha constituency)|Ballia seat]] to [[Jagannath Chowdhary]].<ref name=loksabha1984>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1984/Vol_I_LS_84.pdf |title=General Elections, 1984 - Constituency Wise Detailed Results |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=29 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718184911/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1984/Vol_I_LS_84.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2014 }}</ref>
Chandrasekhar was jailed during the emergency and after, he became the President of [[Janata Party]]. In the parliamentary elections, [[Janata Party]]  formed the government after the [[1977 Indian general election]] headed by [[Morarji Desai]]. However the party lost the 1980 elections and were routed in [[1984 Indian general election]] winning just 10 seats and Chandrasekhar losing his own [[Ballia (Lok Sabha constituency)|Ballia seat]] to [[Jagannath Chowdhary]].<ref name=loksabha1984>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1984/Vol_I_LS_84.pdf |title=General Elections, 1984 - Constituency Wise Detailed Results |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=29 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718184911/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1984/Vol_I_LS_84.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2014 }}</ref>
In May 1988, he resigned from [[Janata Party]]'s President post when [[Lokdal|Lok Dal]] (A) was merged with [[Janata Party]]. [[Ajit Singh (politician, born 1939)|Ajit Singh]] was made president of [[Janata Party]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ajit Singh catapulted as Janata Party president |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19880615-ajit-singh-catapulted-as-janata-party-president-797348-1988-06-14 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=India Today |date=15 June 1988 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Thakur |first=Janardhan |date=1 April 1988 |title=Is Chandra Shekhar trying to break up Janata Party? |pages=874 |work=[[The Illustrated Weekly of India]] |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.13141/page/n873}}</ref> [[George Fernandes]], [[Biju Patnaik]], [[Madhu Dandavate]] and [[Ramakrishna Hegde]] opposed this merger with [[Lokdal|Lok Dal]] (A) but [[Subramanian Swamy]], [[Yashwant Sinha]] and [[Suryadeo Singh]] supported this move.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thakur |first=Janardhan |date=1 April 1988 |title=Is Chandra Shekhar trying to break up Janata Party? |pages=878–879 |work=[[The Illustrated Weekly of India]] |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.13141/page/n877}}</ref>


In 1988, his party merged with other parties and formed the government under the leadership of [[V.P. Singh]]. Again his relationship with the coalition deteriorated and he formed another party, [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)|Janata Dal (Socialist)]] faction. With the support of Congress (I) headed by [[Rajiv Gandhi]], he replaced V.P. Singh as the Prime Minister of India in November 1990. After 1977, he was elected to Lok Sabha in all the elections, except in 1984 when the Congress swept the polls after Indira Gandhi's assassination. The post of Prime Minister, which he thought he genuinely deserved, eluded him in 1989 when V. P. Singh pipped him at the post and was chosen to head the first coalition government at the centre.
In 1988, his party merged with other parties and formed the government under the leadership of [[V.P. Singh]]. Again his relationship with the coalition deteriorated and he formed another party, [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)|Janata Dal (Socialist)]] faction. With the support of Congress (I) headed by [[Rajiv Gandhi]], he replaced V.P. Singh as the Prime Minister of India in November 1990. After 1977, he was elected to Lok Sabha in all the elections, except in 1984 when the Congress swept the polls after Indira Gandhi's assassination. The post of Prime Minister, which he thought he genuinely deserved, eluded him in 1989 when V. P. Singh pipped him at the post and was chosen to head the first coalition government at the centre.


===Deposing V. P. Singh===
===Deposing V. P. Singh===
Chandra Shekhar seized the moment and left the Janata Dal with several of his own supporters to form the [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)|Samajwadi Janata Party/Janata Dal (Socialist)]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/06/world/dissidents-split-indian-prime-minister-s-party.html?scp=16&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse Dissidents Split Indian Prime Minister's Party]. ''New York Times''. (6 November 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> He won a confidence motion with the support of his 64 MPs and [[Rajiv Gandhi]], the leader of the Opposition, and was sworn in as Prime Minister.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/10/world/rival-of-singh-becomes-india-premier.html?scp=17&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse Rival of Singh Becomes India Premier]. ''New York Times''. (10 November 1990). Retrieved 14 September 2011.</ref> Eight Janata Dal MPs who voted for this motion were disqualified by the speaker [[Rabi Ray]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 January 1991|title=Decision of the Speaker under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution Disqualification of Members on Ground of Defection|url=https://eparlib.nic.in/handle/123456789/810959?view_type=browse|url-status=live|website=Lok Sabha Digital Library|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113093106/https://eparlib.nic.in/handle/123456789/810959?view_type=browse |archive-date=13 January 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Order, order! Disorder too!|url=https://www.theweek.in/columns/prasannan/order-order-disorder-too.html|access-date=12 January 2022|website=theweek.in}}</ref>
Chandra Shekhar seized the moment and left the Janata Dal with several of his own supporters to form the [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)|Samajwadi Janata Party/Janata Dal (Socialist)]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/06/world/dissidents-split-indian-prime-minister-s-party.html?scp=16&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse|title=Dissidents Split Indian Prime Minister's Party|work=New York Times|date=6 November 1990|access-date=14 September 2011}}</ref> He won a confidence motion with the support of his 64 MPs and [[Rajiv Gandhi]], the leader of the Opposition, and was sworn in as Prime Minister.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/10/world/rival-of-singh-becomes-india-premier.html?scp=17&sq=%22v%20p%20singh%22&st=cse |title=Rival of Singh Becomes India Premier|work=New York Times|date=10 November 1990|access-date=14 September 2011}}</ref> Eight Janata Dal MPs who voted for this motion were disqualified by the speaker [[Rabi Ray]].<ref>{{Cite journal|date=11 January 1991|title=Decision of the Speaker under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution Disqualification of Members on Ground of Defection|url=https://eparlib.nic.in/handle/123456789/810959?view_type=browse|url-status=live|website=Lok Sabha Digital Library|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113093106/https://eparlib.nic.in/handle/123456789/810959?view_type=browse |archive-date=13 January 2022 |last1=Ray |first1=Rabi }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Order, order! Disorder too!|url=https://www.theweek.in/columns/prasannan/order-order-disorder-too.html|access-date=12 January 2022|website=theweek.in}}</ref>


===In Parliament===
===In Parliament===
Chandra Shekhar was a member of Rajya Sabha from 1962 to 1977, 1962 to 1968 as an independent supported by Socialist Party and later as member of Congress. He was jailed during the Emergency. After his release from jail in 1977, he joined Janata Party. He was elected to Lok Sabha from [[Ballia (Lok Sabha constituency)]] as a member of various incarnations of Janata Party in 1977, 1980, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2004. He lost that seat only once in that span, in 1984 election. After his death, his son Neeraj Shekhar won the ensuing by-poll in 2008.1989 he was also elected from maharajganj Bihar ,but given resignation due to also elected from balia .
Chandra Shekhar was a member of Rajya Sabha from 1962 to 1977, 1962 to 1968 as an independent supported by Socialist Party and later as member of Congress. He was jailed during the Emergency. After his release from jail in 1977, he joined Janata Party. He was elected to Lok Sabha from [[Ballia (Lok Sabha constituency)|Ballia]] as a member of various incarnations of Janata Party in 1977, 1980, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2004. He lost that seat only once in that span, in 1984 election. After his death, his son Neeraj Shekhar won the ensuing by-poll in 2008.


== Other Ministries ==
== Other Ministries ==


=== Minister of Information and Broadcasting (1990-1991) ===
=== Minister of Information and Broadcasting (1990–1991) ===
Chandra Shekhar remained the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Minister of Information and Broadcasting]] from 21 November 1990 to 21 June 1991 from [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)]] and at that time he was himself the Prime Minister of India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MIB|url=http://mib.gov.in/ShowContentOne.aspx?id=1&Section=7|website=mib.gov.in}}</ref> He was preceded by [[V. P. Singh]] and succeeded by [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] to the position after he resigned from the position of Prime Minister due to loss of support of the alliances.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Who's Who {{!}} Ministry of Information and Broadcasting {{!}} Government of India|url=https://mib.gov.in/about-us/whos-who|access-date=14 September 2020|website=mib.gov.in}}</ref>
Chandra Shekhar remained the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Minister of Information and Broadcasting]] from 21 November 1990 to 21 June 1991 from [[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)]] and at that time he was himself the Prime Minister of India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MIB|url=http://mib.gov.in/ShowContentOne.aspx?id=1&Section=7|website=mib.gov.in}}</ref> He was preceded by [[V. P. Singh]] and succeeded by [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] to the position after he resigned from the position of Prime Minister due to loss of support of the alliances.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Who's Who {{!}} Ministry of Information and Broadcasting {{!}} Government of India|url=https://mib.gov.in/about-us/whos-who|access-date=14 September 2020|website=mib.gov.in}}</ref>


=== Minister of Home Affairs (1990-1991) ===
=== Minister of Home Affairs (1990–1991) ===
Like the Minister of I and B, he remained [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Minister of Home Affairs]] for the time period of 7 months. He was himself the Prime Minister at that time and was preceded by [[Mufti Mohammad Sayeed]] and succeeded by [[Shankarrao Chavan]] of [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>[[Minister of Home Affairs (India)]]</ref>
Like the Minister of I and B, he remained [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Minister of Home Affairs]] for the time period of 7 months. He was himself the Prime Minister at that time and was preceded by [[Mufti Mohammad Sayeed]] and succeeded by [[Shankarrao Chavan]] of [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>[[Minister of Home Affairs (India)]]</ref>


=== Minister of Defence (1990-1991) ===
=== Minister of Defence (1990–1991) ===
Along with [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] and [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Information and Broadcasting]], he also handled [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] under him as the [[Prime Minister of India]]. He was Minister of Defence for a very short time of 7 months and didn't present the Defence budget.<ref name=":0" /> He was preceded by [[V. P. Singh]] and succeeded by [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] as the Minister of Defence.<ref>[[Minister of Defence (India)]]</ref>
Along with [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] and [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Information and Broadcasting]], he also handled [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] under him as the [[Prime Minister of India]]. He was Minister of Defence for a very short time of 7 months and didn't present the Defence budget.<ref name=":0" /> He was preceded by [[V. P. Singh]] and succeeded by [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] as the Minister of Defence.<ref>[[Minister of Defence (India)]]</ref>
[[File:Swearing-in_ceremony_of_Shri_Chandra_Sekhar_as_the_Prime_Minister_of_India_at_Rashtrapati_Bhavan_forecourt.jpg|thumb|Chandra Sekhar being sworn in as Prime Minister of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt. He was the first prime minister to take the oath of office in the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt.<ref>{{cite news |title=Modi 2.0: Oath-taking ceremony - all you should know |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/modi-20-oath-taking-ceremony-all-you-should-know-736927.html |access-date=19 June 2023 |work=Deccan Herald |date=29 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref>]]


==Prime Minister==
==Premiership (1990-91)==
{{main|Chandra Shekhar ministry}}
{{main|Chandra Shekhar ministry}}
[[File:Mohammad Mosaddak Ali met with Prime Minister of India Chandra Shekhar Singh at Zia International Airport in Dhaka.jpg|thumb|Mohammad Mosaddak Ali met with Prime Minister of India Chandra Shekhar Singh at Zia International Airport in Dhaka]]
[[File:Mohammad Mosaddak Ali met with Prime Minister of India Chandra Shekhar Singh at Zia International Airport in Dhaka.jpg|thumb|Mohammad Mosaddak Ali met with Prime Minister of India Chandra Shekhar at Zia International Airport in Dhaka]]
Chandra Shekhar was prime minister for seven months, the second shortest period after that of [[Charan Singh]]. [[Subramanian Swamy]] was instrumental in forming this government with the support of Congress.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=16 December 2008 |title=Welcome to www.Janata Party.org |url=http://www.janataparty.org/articledetail.asp?rowid=15 |access-date=24 December 2021 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216042039/http://www.janataparty.org/articledetail.asp?rowid=15 |archive-date=16 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  He also handled the portfolios of Defence and Home Affairs during this period. However, his government could not introduce a full budget because on 6 March 1991 Congress withdrew support during its formulation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Chandra-Shekhar|title=Chandra Shekhar {{!}} prime minister of India|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=30 August 2019}}</ref> As a result, Chandra Shekhar resigned the office of the prime minister after 15 days on 21 June.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Hindu |date=8 July 2007 |title=Chandra Shekhar critical |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/chandra-shekhar-critical/article1868892.ece |access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref>
Chandra Shekhar was prime minister for seven months, the second shortest period after that of [[Charan Singh]]. [[Subramanian Swamy]] was instrumental in forming this government with the support of Congress.<ref name=":1"/>  He also handled the portfolios of Defence and Home Affairs during this period. However, his government could not introduce a full budget because on 6 March 1991 Congress withdrew support during its formulation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Chandra-Shekhar|title=Chandra Shekhar {{!}} prime minister of India|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|language=en|access-date=30 August 2019}}</ref> As a result, Chandra Shekhar resigned the office of the prime minister after 15 days on 21 March.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Hindu |date=8 July 2007 |title=Chandra Shekhar critical |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/chandra-shekhar-critical/article1868892.ece |access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref>


[[Manmohan Singh]] was his Economic Advisor.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Manmohan Singh|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/topic/manmohan-singh|access-date=26 December 2021}}</ref> [[Subramanian Swamy]] along with [[Manmohan Singh]] and [[Montek Singh Ahluwalia]] prepared a series of documents on economic liberalization but could not pass in parliament because Congress withdrew support.<ref>{{Cite book|title=BACKSTAGE: The Story behind India's High Growth Years|publisher=Rupa Publications|year=2020|isbn=978-93-5333-821-3|pages=119–120}}</ref> [[Jairam Ramesh]] in his book ''To the Brink and Back: India’s 1991 Story'' has written that "Chandrashekhar's Cabinet Committee on Trade and Investment (CCTI) itself had on 11 March 1991 approved the new export strategy which contained the main elements of the 4 July package".<ref>{{Cite book|title=To the Brink and Back: India's 1991 Story|publisher=Rupa Publications|year=2015|isbn=9788129137807}}</ref>
[[Manmohan Singh]] was his Economic Advisor.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Manmohan Singh|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/topic/manmohan-singh|access-date=26 December 2021}}</ref> [[Subramanian Swamy]] along with [[Manmohan Singh]] and [[Montek Singh Ahluwalia]] prepared a series of documents on economic liberalization but could not pass in parliament because Congress withdrew support.<ref>{{Cite book|title=BACKSTAGE: The Story behind India's High Growth Years|publisher=Rupa Publications|year=2020|isbn=978-93-5333-821-3|pages=119–120}}</ref> [[Jairam Ramesh]] in his book ''To the Brink and Back: India's 1991 Story'' has written that "Chandrashekhar's Cabinet Committee on Trade and Investment (CCTI) itself had on 11 March 1991 approved the new export strategy which contained the main elements of the 4 July package".<ref>{{Cite book|title=To the Brink and Back: India's 1991 Story|publisher=Rupa Publications|year=2015|isbn=9788129137807}}</ref>


===Post-premiership===
==Post-premiership==
After handing the [[Prime Minister|premiership]] to [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]], Chandra Shekar's political importance was reduced, although he was able to retain his seat in the Lok Sabha for many years afterward.  
After handing the [[Prime Minister|premiership]] to [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]], Chandra Shekar's political importance was reduced, although he was able to retain his seat in the Lok Sabha for many years afterward.
 
==Election Contested==
===Lok Sabha===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
! Year
! Constituency
! colspan="2"|Party
! Votes
! %
! Opponent
! colspan="2" |<small>Opponent Party</small>
! <small>Opponent Votes</small>
!  %
! <small>Result</small>
! Margin
! %
|-
! [[2004 Indian general election|2004]]
| rowspan="9"|[[Ballia Lok Sabha constituency|Ballia]]
| {{Party name with color|Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)|rowspan=5}}
| 270,136
| 43.6
| <small>Kapildeo Yadav</small>
| {{Party name with color|Bahujan Samaj Party}}
| 189,082
| 30.5
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 81,054
| 13.1
|-
! [[1999 Indian general election|1999]]
| 235,946
| 38.1
| rowspan="2"|<small>Ram Krishna Gopal</small>
| {{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party|rowspan=2}}
| 180,271
| 29.1
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 55,675
| 9
|-
! [[1998 Indian general election|1998]]
| 260,544
| 40.5
| 231,060
| 36
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 29,484
| 4.5
|-
! [[1996 Indian general election|1996]]
| 305,592
| 56.4
| rowspan="5"|<small>Jagannath Chowdhary</small>
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress|rowspan=4}}
| 118,987
| 22
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 186,605
| 34.4
|-
! [[1991 Indian general election|1991]]
| 213,066
| 44.7
| 154,518
| 32.4
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 58,548
| 12.3
|-
! [[1989 Indian general election|1989]]
| {{Party name with color|Janata Dal}}
| 251,997
| 52.53
| 161,016
| 33.57
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 90,981
| 18.96
|-
! [[1984 Indian general election|1984]]
| {{Party name with color|Janata Party|rowspan=3}}
| 172,044
| 40.04
| 225,984
| 52.6
| {{no2|Lost}}
| -53,940
| -12.56
|-
! [[1980 Indian general election|1980]]
| 159,901
| 41.37
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress (Indira)}}
| 136,313
| 35.27
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 23,588
| 6.1
|-
! [[1977 Indian general election|1977]]
| 262,641
| 72.42
| <small>Chandrika Prasad</small>
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
| 95,432
| 26.31
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 167,209
| 46.11
|}
 
===Rajya Sabha===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Position
! colspan="2" |Party
! <small>Constituency</small>
! From
! To
! Tenure
|-
| [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]<br><small>(1st Term)</small>
| {{Party name with color|Praja Socialist Party}}
| rowspan="3"|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
| <small>3 April</small><br>1962
| <small>2 April</small><br>1968
| '''{{ayd|1962|4|3|1968|4|2}}'''
|-
| [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]<br><small>(2nd Term)</small>
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
| <small>3 April</small><br>1968
| <small>2 April</small><br>1974
| '''{{ayd|1968|4|3|1974|4|2}}'''
|-
| [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]<br><small>(3rd Term)</small>
| {{Party name with color|Independent politician|shortname=Ind.}}
| <small>3 April</small><br>1974
| <small>2 April</small><br>1980
| '''{{ayd|1974|4|3|1977|3|22}}'''<br><small>(''Elected to Lok Sabha on 22 March 1977'')</small>
|}


==Death==
==Death==
Line 115: Line 271:
Chandra Shekhar died on 8 July 2007. He had been suffering with [[multiple myeloma]] for some time and had been in the [[Apollo Hospital, Indraprastha|Apollo Hospital]] at New Delhi since May. He was survived by two sons.<ref name="hindu20070709">{{cite news |work=The Hindu |date=9 July 2007 |title=Chandra Shekhar dead |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/chandra-shekhar-dead/article1869301.ece |access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref>
Chandra Shekhar died on 8 July 2007. He had been suffering with [[multiple myeloma]] for some time and had been in the [[Apollo Hospital, Indraprastha|Apollo Hospital]] at New Delhi since May. He was survived by two sons.<ref name="hindu20070709">{{cite news |work=The Hindu |date=9 July 2007 |title=Chandra Shekhar dead |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/chandra-shekhar-dead/article1869301.ece |access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref>


Politicians from across the spectrum of Indian parties paid tribute to him<ref>{{cite news |work=The Hindu |date=9 July 2007 |title=Leaders mourn Chandra Shekhar's death |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/leaders-mourn-chandra-shekhars-death/article1869563.ece |access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref> and the government of India declared seven days of state mourning.<ref name="hindu20070709" /> He was cremated with full state honours on a traditional [[funeral pyre]] at '''Jannayak Sthal''',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Former-PM-Chandrashekhars-samadhi-to-be-called-Jannayak-Sthal/articleshow/47022230.cms|title=Former PM Chandrashekhar's samadhi to be called Jannayak Sthal|work=The Times of India}}</ref> on the banks of the river [[Yamuna]], on 10 July.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Hindu |date=10 July 2007 |title=Dignitaries bid adieu to Chandra Shekhar |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/dignitaries-bid-adieu-to-chandra-shekhar/article1870197.ece |access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref> In August, his ashes were immersed in the river [[Siruvani]].<ref>{{cite news |work=The Hindu |date=13 August 2007 |title=Chandra Shekhar's ashes immersed in Siruvani |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/chandra-shekhars-ashes-immersed-in-siruvani/article1890992.ece |access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref>
Politicians from across the spectrum of Indian parties paid tribute to him<ref>{{cite news |work=The Hindu |date=9 July 2007 |title=Leaders mourn Chandra Shekhar's death |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/leaders-mourn-chandra-shekhars-death/article1869563.ece |access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref> and the government of India declared seven days of state mourning.<ref name="hindu20070709" /> He was cremated with full state honours on a traditional [[funeral pyre]] at '''Jannayak Sthal''',<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Former-PM-Chandrashekhars-samadhi-to-be-called-Jannayak-Sthal/articleshow/47022230.cms|title=Former PM Chandrashekhar's samadhi to be called Jannayak Sthal|work=The Times of India|date=23 April 2015 }}</ref> on the banks of the river [[Yamuna]], on 10 July.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Hindu |date=10 July 2007 |title=Dignitaries bid adieu to Chandra Shekhar |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/dignitaries-bid-adieu-to-chandra-shekhar/article1870197.ece |access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref> In August, his ashes were immersed in the river [[Siruvani]].<ref>{{cite news |work=The Hindu |date=13 August 2007 |title=Chandra Shekhar's ashes immersed in Siruvani |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/chandra-shekhars-ashes-immersed-in-siruvani/article1890992.ece |access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref>
 
==Positions held==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Timeline of political career
|-
! Year !! Event
|-
| 2004 || Re-elected to 14th Lok Sabha (8th term)
|-
| 2000–2001 || Chairman, Committee on Ethics
|-
| 1999 || Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (7th term)
|-
| 1998 || Re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha (6th term)
|-
| 1996 || Re-elected to 11th Lok Sabha (5th term)
|-
| 1991 || Re-elected to 10th Lok Sabha (4th term)
|-
| 1990–91 || Prime Minister and in charge of various Ministries/Departments including
* Defence,
* Home Affairs,
* Atomic Energy,
* Science and Technology,
* Ocean Development,
* Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions,
* Electronics,
* Space,
* Information and Broadcasting,
* Industry,
* Labour,
* Welfare,
* Planning and Programme Implementation,
* External Affairs,
* Health and Family Welfare,
* Water Resources and Surface Transport
|-
| 1989 || Re-elected to 9th Lok Sabha (3rd term)
|-
| 1980 || Re-elected to 7th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
|-
| 1977–78 || President, Janata Party (J.P.)
|-
| 1977 || Elected to 6th Lok Sabha
|-
| 1967 || General Secretary, Congress Parliamentary Party (C.P.P.)
|-
| 1962 || Member, Rajya Sabha
|-
| 1959–62 || Member, National Executive, P.S.P.
|-
| 1955 || General Secretary, P.S.P., Uttar Pradesh
|-
| 1952 || Joint Secretary, P.S.P., Uttar Pradesh
|-
| 1951 || Secretary, Praja Socialist Party (P.S.P.), Distt. Ballia
|}


==See also==
==See also==
Line 155: Line 368:
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Shekhar, Chandra}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandra Shekhar}}
[[Category:India MPs 1977–1979]]
[[Category:India MPs 1977–1979]]
[[Category:India MPs 1980–1984]]
[[Category:India MPs 1980–1984]]
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[[Category:India MPs 1999–2004]]
[[Category:India MPs 1999–2004]]
[[Category:India MPs 2004–2009]]
[[Category:India MPs 2004–2009]]
[[Category:Ministers of Internal Affairs of India]]
[[Category:Ministers of internal affairs of India]]
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:University of Allahabad alumni]]
[[Category:University of Allahabad alumni]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in India]]
[[Category:Chandra Shekhar administration]]
[[Category:Chandra Shekhar administration]]
[[Category:Deaths from multiple myeloma]]
[[Category:Deaths from multiple myeloma in India]]
[[Category:People from Ballia]]
[[Category:People from Ballia]]
[[Category:Prime Ministers of India]]
[[Category:Prime ministers of India]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Praja Socialist Party politicians]]
[[Category:Praja Socialist Party politicians]]
[[Category:Janata Party politicians]]
[[Category:Janata Party politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Janata Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Janata Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Samata Party politicians]]
[[Category:Samata Party politicians]]
[[Category:Samajwadi Janata Party politicians]]
[[Category:Samajwadi Janata Party politicians]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Defence Ministers of India]]
[[Category:Ministers of defence of India]]
[[Category:20th-century prime ministers of India]]
[[Category:20th-century prime ministers of India]]
[[Category:Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]]
[[Category:Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]]
[[Category:Science ministers of India]]

Latest revision as of 21:47, 23 February 2026


Not to be confused with Chandra Shekhar (Uttarakhand politician).

Chandra Shekhar
'बाबूसाहेब'
Shekhar on a 2010 postage stamp of India
Prime Minister of India
In office
10 November 1990 – 1 June 1991
PresidentRamaswamy Venkataraman
Vice PresidentShankar Dayal Sharma
DeputyChaudhary Devi Lal
Preceded byVishwanath Pratap Singh
Succeeded byP. V. Narasimha Rao
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
3 April 1962 – 22 March 1977
ConstituencyUttar Pradesh
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
2 December 1989 – 8 July 2007
Preceded byJagannath Chowdhary
Succeeded byNeeraj Shekhar
ConstituencyBallia, Uttar Pradesh
In office
22 March 1977 – 31 October 1984
Preceded byChandrika Prasad
Succeeded byJagannath Chowdhary
ConstituencyBallia, Uttar Pradesh
President of the Janata Party
In office
1977 (1977) – 1988 (1988)
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byAjit Singh
Personal details
Born(1927-04-17)17 April 1927
Ibrahimpatti, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India
Died8 July 2007(2007-07-08) (aged 80)
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Political partySamajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)
(1990–2007)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse(s)Duja Devi
Children2 (including Neeraj Shekhar)
Alma materAllahabad University (M.A)
Signature
MonumentsJannayak Sthal
2=

Chandra Shekhar (17 April 1927 – 8 July 2007), also known as Jananayak, was an Indian politician and the prime minister of India, between 10 November 1990 and 21 June 1991. He headed a minority government of a breakaway faction of the Janata Dal with outside support from the Indian National Congress.[1] He was the second Indian Prime Minister who had never held any prior government office.[2][3][4]

His government was formed with the fewest party MPs in the Lok Sabha.[5][6] His government could not pass the budget[7] at a crucial time when Moody's had downgraded India's credit rating, after Shekhar's government was unable to pass the budget, global credit-rating agencies further downgraded India from investment grade, making it impossible to even get short-term loans, and in no position to give any commitment to reform, the World Bank and IMF stopped their assistance. Shekhar had to authorise the mortgaging of gold to avoid default of payment, and this action came in for particular criticism, as it was done secretly in the midst of the election.[8][9][10] The 1991 Indian economic crisis and the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi plunged his government into crisis.[11][12] Granting the permission for US military planes to refuel at Indian airports during the Gulf War improved the Prime Minister's image with the West.[13][14]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Early years and education[edit | edit source]

Chandra Shekhar was born on 17 April 1927 in a Rajput family at Ibrahimpatti, a village in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. He came from a farming background.[15][16][17] He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (graduate) degree at Satish Chandra P.G. College. He attended Allahabad University, obtaining his master's degree in political science in 1950.[18] He was known as a firebrand student leader in student politics and started his political career with Ram Manohar Lohia. After completing his graduation, he became active in socialist politics.[19][20]

Family[edit | edit source]

Chandra Shekhar married Duja Devi.[21] Duja Devi Degree College, founded in 1999 in Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh, is named after her.[22]

He had two sons with her, Pankaj Shekhar and Neeraj Shekhar.

Political life[edit | edit source]

Start of career[edit | edit source]

He joined the socialist movement and was elected secretary of the district Praja Socialist Party (PSP), Ballia. Within a year, he was elected joint secretary of the PSP's State unit in Uttar Pradesh. In 1955–56, he took over as general secretary of the party in the State. His career as a parliamentarian began with his election to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in 1962. He came under the spell of Acharya Narendra Dev, a fiery Socialist leader at the beginning of his political career. From 1962 to 1977, Shekhar was a member of Rajya Sabha, the Upper house of the Parliament of India. He was elected to Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh on 3 April 1962 as an independent candidate and completed his tenure on 2 April 1968. After this, he was re-elected twice to Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh as an INC candidate from 3 April 1968 to 2 April 1974 and from 3 April 1974 to 2 April 1980. He resigned from Rajya Sabha on 2 March 1977 after he had been elected to Lok Sabha from Ballia. When the emergency was declared, even though he was a Congress party politician, he was arrested and sent to Patiala jail.[23]

Join Congress[edit | edit source]

Chandra Shekhar was a prominent leader of the socialists. He joined Congress in 1964. From 1962 to 1967, he was a member of the Rajya Sabha. He first entered the Lok Sabha in 1977. He came to be known as a 'young Turk' for his conviction and courage in the fight against the vested interests. The other 'young Turks', who formed the 'ginger group' in the Congress in the fight for egalitarian policies, included[24] leaders like Feroze Gandhi, Satyendra Narayan Sinha, Mohan Dharia and Ram Dhan. As a member of the Congress Party, he vehemently criticised Indira Gandhi for her declaration of emergency in 1975. Chandrashekhar was arrested during the emergency and sent to prison along with other "young turks".[25]

Bharat Yatra (1983)[edit | edit source]

Chandra Shekhar went on a nationwide padayatra in 1983 from Kanyakumari to New Delhi,[26] to know the country better, which he claimed gave jitters to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.[27] He was called a "Young Turk".[28] He travelled nearly 4,260 km and nearly six months.[29][30] Chandra Shekhar started his Bharat Yatra from Kanyakumari on 6, the same day that his party, Janata Party was swept to power in Karnataka.[31] He finished his march at Rajghat in New Delhi on 25 June, the eighth anniversary of the declaration of the Emergency and also the day India won the Cricket World Cup.[32]

Chandra Shekhar established Bharat Yatra Centres in various parts of the country and set up a Bharat Yatra Trust in Bhondsi village in Haryana's Gurgaon to focus on rural development.[33][34] "Bharat Yatra Kendra" "Bhondsi ashram" was set up by the Chandra Shekhar in 1983 on 600 acre of panchayat land,[35] where godman Chandraswami and godman's associate Adnan Khashoggi (a Saudi Arabian billionaire international arms dealer embroiled in various scandals) use to visit him.[36][37][38] Before 2002, some of the government land of the ashram was taken back by the Government of Haryana on the instructions of then Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala (in office 1989–91 and 1999–2004).[39] In 2002, Supreme Court of India returned most of the land, barring some land, to the Bhondsi gram panchayat.[40]

In Janata Party[edit | edit source]

Chandrasekhar was jailed during the emergency and after, he became the President of Janata Party. In the parliamentary elections, Janata Party formed the government after the 1977 Indian general election headed by Morarji Desai. However the party lost the 1980 elections and were routed in 1984 Indian general election winning just 10 seats and Chandrasekhar losing his own Ballia seat to Jagannath Chowdhary.[41]

In May 1988, he resigned from Janata Party's President post when Lok Dal (A) was merged with Janata Party. Ajit Singh was made president of Janata Party.[42][43] George Fernandes, Biju Patnaik, Madhu Dandavate and Ramakrishna Hegde opposed this merger with Lok Dal (A) but Subramanian Swamy, Yashwant Sinha and Suryadeo Singh supported this move.[44]

In 1988, his party merged with other parties and formed the government under the leadership of V.P. Singh. Again his relationship with the coalition deteriorated and he formed another party, Janata Dal (Socialist) faction. With the support of Congress (I) headed by Rajiv Gandhi, he replaced V.P. Singh as the Prime Minister of India in November 1990. After 1977, he was elected to Lok Sabha in all the elections, except in 1984 when the Congress swept the polls after Indira Gandhi's assassination. The post of Prime Minister, which he thought he genuinely deserved, eluded him in 1989 when V. P. Singh pipped him at the post and was chosen to head the first coalition government at the centre.

Deposing V. P. Singh[edit | edit source]

Chandra Shekhar seized the moment and left the Janata Dal with several of his own supporters to form the Samajwadi Janata Party/Janata Dal (Socialist).[45] He won a confidence motion with the support of his 64 MPs and Rajiv Gandhi, the leader of the Opposition, and was sworn in as Prime Minister.[46] Eight Janata Dal MPs who voted for this motion were disqualified by the speaker Rabi Ray.[47][48]

In Parliament[edit | edit source]

Chandra Shekhar was a member of Rajya Sabha from 1962 to 1977, 1962 to 1968 as an independent supported by Socialist Party and later as member of Congress. He was jailed during the Emergency. After his release from jail in 1977, he joined Janata Party. He was elected to Lok Sabha from Ballia as a member of various incarnations of Janata Party in 1977, 1980, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2004. He lost that seat only once in that span, in 1984 election. After his death, his son Neeraj Shekhar won the ensuing by-poll in 2008.

Other Ministries[edit | edit source]

Minister of Information and Broadcasting (1990–1991)[edit | edit source]

Chandra Shekhar remained the Minister of Information and Broadcasting from 21 November 1990 to 21 June 1991 from Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya) and at that time he was himself the Prime Minister of India.[49] He was preceded by V. P. Singh and succeeded by P. V. Narasimha Rao to the position after he resigned from the position of Prime Minister due to loss of support of the alliances.[50]

Minister of Home Affairs (1990–1991)[edit | edit source]

Like the Minister of I and B, he remained Minister of Home Affairs for the time period of 7 months. He was himself the Prime Minister at that time and was preceded by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and succeeded by Shankarrao Chavan of Indian National Congress.[51]

Minister of Defence (1990–1991)[edit | edit source]

Along with Ministry of Home Affairs and Information and Broadcasting, he also handled Ministry of Defence under him as the Prime Minister of India. He was Minister of Defence for a very short time of 7 months and didn't present the Defence budget.[52] He was preceded by V. P. Singh and succeeded by P. V. Narasimha Rao as the Minister of Defence.[53]

Chandra Sekhar being sworn in as Prime Minister of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt. He was the first prime minister to take the oath of office in the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt.[54]

Premiership (1990-91)[edit | edit source]

Main article: Chandra Shekhar ministry
Mohammad Mosaddak Ali met with Prime Minister of India Chandra Shekhar at Zia International Airport in Dhaka

Chandra Shekhar was prime minister for seven months, the second shortest period after that of Charan Singh. Subramanian Swamy was instrumental in forming this government with the support of Congress.[13] He also handled the portfolios of Defence and Home Affairs during this period. However, his government could not introduce a full budget because on 6 March 1991 Congress withdrew support during its formulation.[52] As a result, Chandra Shekhar resigned the office of the prime minister after 15 days on 21 March.[55]

Manmohan Singh was his Economic Advisor.[56] Subramanian Swamy along with Manmohan Singh and Montek Singh Ahluwalia prepared a series of documents on economic liberalization but could not pass in parliament because Congress withdrew support.[57] Jairam Ramesh in his book To the Brink and Back: India's 1991 Story has written that "Chandrashekhar's Cabinet Committee on Trade and Investment (CCTI) itself had on 11 March 1991 approved the new export strategy which contained the main elements of the 4 July package".[58]

Post-premiership[edit | edit source]

After handing the premiership to P. V. Narasimha Rao, Chandra Shekar's political importance was reduced, although he was able to retain his seat in the Lok Sabha for many years afterward.

Election Contested[edit | edit source]

Lok Sabha[edit | edit source]

Year Constituency Party Votes % Opponent Opponent Party Opponent Votes % Result Margin %
2004 Ballia Samajwadi Janata Party 270,136 43.6 Kapildeo Yadav BSP 189,082 30.5 Won 81,054 13.1
1999 235,946 38.1 Ram Krishna Gopal BJP 180,271 29.1 Won 55,675 9
1998 260,544 40.5 231,060 36 Won 29,484 4.5
1996 305,592 56.4 Jagannath Chowdhary INC 118,987 22 Won 186,605 34.4
1991 213,066 44.7 154,518 32.4 Won 58,548 12.3
1989 JD 251,997 52.53 161,016 33.57 Won 90,981 18.96
1984 JP 172,044 40.04 225,984 52.6 Lost -53,940 -12.56
1980 159,901 41.37 Indian National Congress 136,313 35.27 Won 23,588 6.1
1977 262,641 72.42 Chandrika Prasad INC 95,432 26.31 Won 167,209 46.11

Rajya Sabha[edit | edit source]

Position Party Constituency From To Tenure
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
(1st Term) 		Praja Socialist Party Uttar Pradesh 3 April
1962 		2 April
1968 		5 years, 365 days
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
(2nd Term) 		INC 3 April
1968 		2 April
1974 		5 years, 364 days
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
(3rd Term) 		Independent 3 April
1974 		2 April
1980 		2 years, 353 days
(Elected to Lok Sabha on 22 March 1977)

Death[edit | edit source]

Priyaranjan Dasmunsi laying wreath at the mortal remains of the former Prime Minister, Shri Chandra Shekhar at the funeral pyre, in Delhi on 9 July 2007
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh paying tribute to the mortal remains of the former Prime Minister Shri Chandra Shekhar, in New Delhi on 8 July 2007
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh paying homage to the mortal remains of the former Prime Minister, Shri Chandra Shekhar at the funeral pyre, in Delhi on 9 July 2007
The former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee paying tribute to the mortal remains of the former Prime Minister Shri Chandra Shekhar, in New Delhi on 8 July 2007
The carriage carrying the mortal remains of the former Prime Minister, Shri Chandra Shekhar making its way to Ekta Sthal for the state funeral, in Delhi on 9 July 2007

Chandra Shekhar died on 8 July 2007. He had been suffering with multiple myeloma for some time and had been in the Apollo Hospital at New Delhi since May. He was survived by two sons.[59]

Politicians from across the spectrum of Indian parties paid tribute to him[60] and the government of India declared seven days of state mourning.[59] He was cremated with full state honours on a traditional funeral pyre at Jannayak Sthal,[61] on the banks of the river Yamuna, on 10 July.[62] In August, his ashes were immersed in the river Siruvani.[63]

Positions held[edit | edit source]

Timeline of political career
Year Event
2004 Re-elected to 14th Lok Sabha (8th term)
2000–2001 Chairman, Committee on Ethics
1999 Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (7th term)
1998 Re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha (6th term)
1996 Re-elected to 11th Lok Sabha (5th term)
1991 Re-elected to 10th Lok Sabha (4th term)
1990–91 Prime Minister and in charge of various Ministries/Departments including
  • Defence,
  • Home Affairs,
  • Atomic Energy,
  • Science and Technology,
  • Ocean Development,
  • Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions,
  • Electronics,
  • Space,
  • Information and Broadcasting,
  • Industry,
  • Labour,
  • Welfare,
  • Planning and Programme Implementation,
  • External Affairs,
  • Health and Family Welfare,
  • Water Resources and Surface Transport
1989 Re-elected to 9th Lok Sabha (3rd term)
1980 Re-elected to 7th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
1977–78 President, Janata Party (J.P.)
1977 Elected to 6th Lok Sabha
1967 General Secretary, Congress Parliamentary Party (C.P.P.)
1962 Member, Rajya Sabha
1959–62 Member, National Executive, P.S.P.
1955 General Secretary, P.S.P., Uttar Pradesh
1952 Joint Secretary, P.S.P., Uttar Pradesh
1951 Secretary, Praja Socialist Party (P.S.P.), Distt. Ballia

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Sanjoy Hazarika (10 November 1990). "Rival of Singh Becomes India Premier". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  2. ↑ Sanjoy Hazarika (11 November 1990). "Socialist Is Installed as India's Eleventh Prime Minister". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  3. ↑ "Denied Ticket, What's Next For Varun Gandhi? Mother Maneka Gandhi Says..." NDTV.com. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  4. ↑ "Ephemeral Governments". TheDailyGuardian. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  5. ↑ Inderjit Badhwar,.Prabhu Chawla (15 December 1990). "Chandra Shekhar exploits fears, weaknesses of Congress(I) and Janata Dal(S)". India Today. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  6. ↑ "The Interim Man". The Economist. 1990. p. 42.
  7. ↑ Yashwant Sinha (29 July 2016). "1991, the untold story". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  8. ↑ Deepak Nayar (18 October 2016). "How the economy found its feet". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  9. ↑ Shaji Vikraman (5 April 2017). "In fact: How govts pledged gold to pull economy back from the brink". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  10. ↑ Stuart Corbridge; John Harriss (28 May 2013). Reinventing India: Liberalization, Hindu Nationalism and Popular Democracy. Wiley. pp. 144–. ISBN 978-0-7456-6604-4. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  11. ↑ "Remembering India's Former PM Chandra Shekhar Singh On His Death Anniversary". Free Press Journal. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  12. ↑ Javaid, Arfa (8 July 2021). "Chandra Shekhar Singh Biography: Birth, Education, Political Career, Death, and more about 8th Prime Minister of India". Jagranjosh.com. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Welcome to www.Janata Party.org". 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  14. ↑ Crossette, Barbara (13 November 1990). "Man in The News; India's Freewheeling Leader: Chandra Shekhar". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  15. ↑ Chand, Attar (1991). The Long March: Profile of Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar. Mittal. p. 59. ISBN 978-8-17099-272-1.
  16. ↑ Ghai, Rajat (7 May 2014). "The office of Prime Minister: A largely north Indian upper-caste, Hindu affair". Business Standard India. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "How Thakurs have dominated UP politics since Independence". The Indian Express. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  18. ↑ Dubey, Scharada (2009). Movers and Shakers Prime Minister of India. Westland. ISBN 9788189975548. Retrieved 7 June 2015.[permanent dead link]
  19. ↑ The rise of Socialist politics under Chandra Shekhar. In the Janata-coalition government that came to power in the aftermath of that election, Chandra Shekhar willingly gave up his claim to a Cabinet ministerial role that he was offered in favour of his fellow-Young Turk Mohan Dharia. That was just one instance of Chandra Shekhar's deep commitment and loyalty towards his friends, which is a recurring theme in the book. A rare occurrence in an opportunistic political world—Chandra Shekhar was also upright and forthright, not prone to hypocrisy like the commonplace politicians. Sometimes his straight talk stunned even seasoned politicians like Ram Manohar Lohia and Indira Gandhi.
  20. ↑ "Buy Chandra Shekhar :The Last Icon of Ideological Politics Book at 32% off". Paytm Mall. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  21. ↑ Chand, Attar (1991). The Long March: Profile of Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar. Mittal. p. 13. ISBN 978-8-17099-272-1.
  22. ↑ "About Us". Duja Devi Degree College Rajauli, Sahatwar, Ballia (U.P.). Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  23. ↑ Movers and Shakers Prime Minister of India by Scharada Dubey – 2009 During the emergency, Chandra Shekhar was among the very few individuals from the ruling Congress party to be sent to jail.
  24. ↑ "Chandra Shekhar – Samajwadi janta party". Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  25. ↑ Kapoor, Coomi (2015). The Emergency: A Personal History, Chapter 4. Penguin/Viking. ISBN 9789352141197.
  26. ↑ "Shri Chandra Shekhar".
  27. ↑ "The Parallels Between Congress's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and Ex-PM Chandra Shekhar's 'Padayatra'".
  28. ↑ "Rewind & Replay That other 'Bharat Yatri': The long march, but short run, of Chandra Shekhar". 9 September 2022.
  29. ↑ "Photos by Tumari man on display at PMs' Museum in New Delhi". The Hindu. 3 May 2022.
  30. ↑ "A rebel's journey". 26 July 2007.
  31. ↑ "Janata Party chief Chandra Shekhar embarks on Bharat Yatra from Kanyakumari to New Delhi". 26 July 2013.
  32. ↑ "Janata Party President Chandra Shekhar completes his 4,000 km Bharat Yatra". 18 July 2013.
  33. ↑ "Bharat Yatra Trust: Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar expands his real estate empire". 30 June 1991.
  34. ↑ "Remembering Chandrashekhar: soldier of the socialist cause". Hindustan Times. 10 July 2007.
  35. ↑ "Bhondsi Ashram: Ecologists, foreigners, bonfires make for high farce". 15 January 1991.
  36. ↑ 1996, "India Today", – Volume 21, Issues 7-12, p. 122.
  37. ↑ "Creating a stir.", India Today, 28 February 1991.
  38. ↑ "An escape to nature in the backyard of Gurgao.", Hindustan Times, 20 June 2017.
  39. ↑ 2003, "Outlook.", Volume 43, Issues 47-51, p. 102.
  40. ↑ "Name ashram after former PM Chandra Shekhar: Harsh Vardhan., Times of India, 17 June 2017.
  41. ↑ "General Elections, 1984 - Constituency Wise Detailed Results" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  42. ↑ "Ajit Singh catapulted as Janata Party president". India Today. 15 June 1988. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  43. ↑ Thakur, Janardhan (1 April 1988). "Is Chandra Shekhar trying to break up Janata Party?". The Illustrated Weekly of India. p. 874.
  44. ↑ Thakur, Janardhan (1 April 1988). "Is Chandra Shekhar trying to break up Janata Party?". The Illustrated Weekly of India. pp. 878–879.
  45. ↑ "Dissidents Split Indian Prime Minister's Party". New York Times. 6 November 1990. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  46. ↑ "Rival of Singh Becomes India Premier". New York Times. 10 November 1990. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  47. ↑ Ray, Rabi (11 January 1991). "Decision of the Speaker under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution Disqualification of Members on Ground of Defection". Lok Sabha Digital Library. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022.
  48. ↑ "Order, order! Disorder too!". theweek.in. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  49. ↑ "MIB". mib.gov.in.
  50. ↑ "Who's Who | Ministry of Information and Broadcasting | Government of India". mib.gov.in. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  51. ↑ Minister of Home Affairs (India)
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 "Chandra Shekhar | prime minister of India". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  53. ↑ Minister of Defence (India)
  54. ↑ "Modi 2.0: Oath-taking ceremony - all you should know". Deccan Herald. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  55. ↑ "Chandra Shekhar critical". The Hindu. 8 July 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  56. ↑ "Manmohan Singh". Business Standard India. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  57. ↑ BACKSTAGE: The Story behind India's High Growth Years. Rupa Publications. 2020. pp. 119–120. ISBN 978-93-5333-821-3.
  58. ↑ To the Brink and Back: India's 1991 Story. Rupa Publications. 2015. ISBN 9788129137807.
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 "Chandra Shekhar dead". The Hindu. 9 July 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  60. ↑ "Leaders mourn Chandra Shekhar's death". The Hindu. 9 July 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  61. ↑ "Former PM Chandrashekhar's samadhi to be called Jannayak Sthal". The Times of India. 23 April 2015.
  62. ↑ "Dignitaries bid adieu to Chandra Shekhar". The Hindu. 10 July 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  63. ↑ "Chandra Shekhar's ashes immersed in Siruvani". The Hindu. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2014.

Further reading[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Political offices
Preceded by
V. P. Singh 		Prime Minister of India
1990–91 		Succeeded by
P. V. Narasimha Rao
Minister of Defence
1990–91 		Succeeded by
Sharad Pawar
Preceded by
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed 		Minister of Home Affairs
1990–91 		Succeeded by
Shankarrao Chavan


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