NEW DELHI: V.P. Singh has quit the Lok Sabha. ‘The former Prime Minister called on the Speaker, Shivraj K. Patil, on Dec, 5, to submit a 37word letter written in his own hand resigning from the membership of the House. ‘The resignation has fuelled speculations in political circles about the motives behind this dramatic move. But Jaipal Reddy, leader of the Janata Dal group in Rajya Sabha, said he was not surprised, “Mr.Singh has been thinking on these lines for about a year. He wants to distance himself from all formal positions to play 4 larger formal informal political roles,” he said.

Janata Dal watchers say Singh’s real intention is to position himself away from the intraparty feuds of the Janata Dal to emerge as the undisputed leader of the non-Congress secular forces, This interpretation fits well with Singh’s assertion at a Press conference at his he was not quitting electoral politics and would be campaigning for NFLF combine and the Janata Dal in the coming Assembly elections.

Yet another explanation offered by political observers is that the former Prime Minister is fed up with the Janata Dal which is plagued by splits and internecine warfare and wanted to give a jolt to the party by withdrawing from the parliamentary forum. ’ Singh’s resignation might have been caused by his failing health but he did not say so despite media person’ ‘pointed questions on this aspect. The fact that he rarely attended the Monsoon session of the Parliament lend credence to suggestions in this regard.

“The former Prime Minister’s detractors say that his real motive was to hog the limelight at a time when the Janata Dal has shown sign of revival at least in Kamataka. Party leaders he did manage a brief trip to Andhra Pradesh ‘and Karnataka amidst reports that the NF ‘Asked about the timing of his resignation, Singh said as the NFLF were on a comeback trail, he could take it easy. His resignation during the campaign or when the NFLF was in trouble might have sent wrong signals.

“I am not quitting electoral politics and would be campaigning for the NI FLF in the coming Assembly elections. I will also continue to work for youth, social justice and cleaner public life, he asserted.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 9, 1994