In 1980 when Indira Gandhi returned to power, Singh was made Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. His two-year stint at the helm of India's largest state ended dramatically when he quit in the wake of the anti-dacoit operations launched by his government.

But soon he was made Commerce Minister in Gandhi's cabinet. As Finance Minister in Rajiv Gandhi's government, Singh gained popularity for ordering searches and raids against industrial houses, hiring an American detective agency Fairfax for investigating accounts of Non Resident Indians and for taking up the Bofors pay-offs case.

Chandrababu condoles V P Singh's death

TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu condoled the death of former prime minister V P Singh and described him as a pioneer in ensuring due share to people from backward communities in political and administration fields.

Expressing grief over Singh's death, the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister said his demise was a "great loss for the nation and an extreme personal loss for him".

Recalling his association with the former Prime Minister, Naidu said on several occasions Singh gave meaningful and constructive advice during the formation of non-Congress governments at the Centre.

"I express my heart felt condolences to Singh's family members and he was a pioneer in ensuring due share to backward classes in the fields of politics and administration," Naidu.

State announces 7-day mourning

The government announced a seven-day state mourning as a mark of respect to former Prime Minister V P Singh.

77-year old Singh died here today after battling blood cancer for over 17 years and renal failure.