Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, a socialist who showed political ambition and idealism can cohabit, died today in New Delhi after a prolonged illness. He was 80.

He was Prime Minister for seven months from November 10, 1990.

Starting his political career as a socialist disciple of Acharya Narendra Dev, Chandra Shekhar joined the Congress party in 1964 but fell out with Indira Gandhi over her personality-oriented politics. Named the “Young Turk” in the Congress, Chandra Shekhar expressed his sympathies with Jayaprakash Narayan who was brewing a movement against Indira. On June 25, 1975, when Emergency was declared, Chandra Shekhar, still a Congress MP, was among the leaders arrested.

He became the first president of Janata Party in 1977, when it was formed by the merger of several non-Congress parties. When the Janata Party splintered away, he continued to be president of the original, until 1989, when it was merged with several other non-Congress parties to form the Janata Dal.

After the 1989 election, the Janata Dal was in a position to form the government and Chandra Shekhar believed the post of prime minister was naturally his. But Haryana strongman Devi Lal and V P Singh cut a deal that made the latter the prime minister. After 11-months, Chandra Shekhar used the same Devi Lal to bring down V P Singh, split JD, floated his Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) and became prime minister with the support of Congress. It was an ambition he had as early as 1977. In 1979 he wrote to JP: “If Shri (Morarji) Desai voluntarily decides to relinquish his post, I will contest the Janata Parliamentary Party leader’s election.” As it happened, it was Charan Singh who replaced Desai.

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