former Uttar Pradesh CM Kalyan Singh

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and ex-Governor of Rajasthan, Kalyan Singh passed away at Lucknow on Saturday due to sepsis and multi-organ failure.

He was 89.

Singh had been undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) at Lucknow since July 4.

The health condition of the senior BJP leader deteriorated on Friday and after that, he was placed on dialysis.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other leaders have expressed condolence at the demise of the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

“Kalyan Singh ji had a magical connect with masses. As Chief Minister of UP, he determinedly pursued clean politics and purged governance of criminals and corruption. He dignified the offices he held. His demise leaves a vacuum in public life. My heartfelt condolences,” President Kovind tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Kalyan Singh Ji gave voice to crores of people belonging to the marginalised sections of society.

“He made numerous efforts towards the empowerment of farmers, youngsters and women,” PM Modi tweeted.

“Generations to come will remain forever grateful to Kalyan Singh Ji for his contributions towards India’s cultural regeneration. He was firmly rooted in Indian values and took pride in our centuries old traditions,” he added.

“Kalyan Singh raised the voice of the downtrodden in the UP Assembly or the Parliament. He had been committed to the cause of Ram Janmbhommi. On the day of stone laying for Ram Temple, I spoke to him over the phone & he said his dreams came true,” said Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

He became a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) while he was in school.

He entered the Uttar Pradesh legislature as a member of the Legislative Assembly in 1967.

Singh became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh for the first time in 1991 but he resigned after the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

He became the Uttar Pradesh chief minister for the second time in 1997 but was removed by his party in 1999.

He then left the BJP and formed his own party.

Singh re-entered the BJP in 2004 and was elected an MP from Bulandshahar and left the BJP for the second time in 2009.

After winning the 2009 Indian general election as an independent candidate from Etah, he re-joined the BJP again in 2014 and was appointed the Governor of Rajasthan.

In September 2019 he was brought to trial for criminal conspiracy to demolish the Babri Masjid but was acquitted by a special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2020.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa sarma tweeted: “Deeply saddened by the demise of Shri Kalyan Singh ji. His tenure as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister will be remembered for immense growth of Bharatiya Janata Party & the utmost devotion with which he served Prabhu Shri Ram. My condolences to his family and well wishers. Om Shanti!”