Lucknow, August 21 (TNA) On his death anniversary today, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh is being remembered as a leader who left a deep imprint on the state’s politics and public life. A veteran of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Kalyan Singh rose from humble beginnings in Aligarh to become one of the most influential OBC faces in north Indian politics.
Born on January 5, 1932, in Atrauli, Kalyan Singh entered politics through the Jan Sangh and later became chief minister of Uttar Pradesh twice. His first term began in 1991, and his return to power in 1997 once again placed him at the centre of state politics.
He is remembered as a strong Hindutva leader and a key figure in the Ram temple movement, a role that made him both admired by supporters and criticised by opponents. His resignation after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 remains one of the most discussed episodes of his political career.
Beyond controversy, Kalyan Singh was also seen as a leader with strong grassroots connect, especially among backward classes. Over the years, he moved through different political phases, returned to the BJP, served as a Lok Sabha member and later as governor of Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.
Kalyan Singh died on August 21, 2021, at SGPGI in Lucknow at the age of 89 after a prolonged illness. Five years later, his name continues to evoke memories of a leader who shaped an era in Uttar Pradesh politics and remained a significant presence in the BJP’s rise in the state.