NEW DELHI-Former Prime Minister V.P. Singh has decided not to accept the president ship of the Janata Dal despite his unanimous election to the post by the party’s National Executive. Mr. Singh said that he had maintained for a long time that the Janata Dal should function as an instrument to secure power to the deprived sections-the scheduled castes the ‘backward classes and the minorities ‘and thus could not possibly accepted the top party post If we are 19 be committed to this ideology then we have to make the beginning in the party itself We can’t possibly have a situation when people  like me  from the non-deprived sections hold the top posts and yet Convince the public at large that we stand for securing power for the deprived sections. How can we remain credible if we do that?  he asked.

Asked whether as a party man it was not incumbent on him to accept the decision of the party’s apex policy making body the national executive Singh said: I have great respect for the national executive I greatly appreciate their sentiments. But in all humility call upon the nations! Executive members not to allow any dilution of the ideology of making the party the instrument for helping people from the weaker sections to share power at the top f could still work for the party in the second the third or even the fourth rungs

It is time we realize that the party cannot remain merely an instrument for elections or for the political survival of a few leaders. If it wants to remain that there is little sense in the Party Continuing to exist. The party must go beyond that it must dedicate itself to the sections of society which have remained socially and thus politically deprived he maintained.

It was obvious from the manner in Which the former Prime Minister Spoke that he did not visualize himself to be playing any major individualistic role in power politics in the near future He said that his life’s mission had already been achieved with the first appointment Of & candidate as per the recommendations of the Mandal Commission. What indignities I have suffered how I was vilified. But I was vindicated by the uppermost Constitutional authority in the country the Supreme Court. And now the first appointment has also been made.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 25, 1994