V P Singh's book to be released on his 75th birthday tomorrow

New Delhi, June 24 (UNI) Former President Zail Singh had offered to make Mr V P Singh the Prime Minister after dismissing the late Rajiv Gandhi during the latter's tenure between 1984 and 1989.

This revelation has been made by the former Prime Minister in his book 'Manzil Se Zyada Safar'.

In the book, edited by journalist Ram Bahadur Rai, Mr Singh has said that during Mr Rajiv Gandhi's tenure, Mr Zail Singh was unhappy with him and had told several people who came to meet him at the Rashtrapati Bhawan that if V P Singh agreed, he could dismiss Mr Rajiv Gandhi and administer oath to Mr Singh as Prime Minister.

Mr Singh, however, rejected the proposal as against the principles of political morality.

The book will be released at the 'Amrit Utsav' to be organised at Mr Singh's house on the occasion of his 75th birthday.

Among those expected to be present on the occasion are socialist leader Surendra Mohan, Left leader Prakash Karat, Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Lok Janshakti party leader Ramvilas Paswan.

Tomorrow's function is also being viewed in political circles as an opportunity to cobble a front of like-minded parties against the SP, BSP and BJP in the coming elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Singh spearheads the revived Jan Morcha, a front comprising LJP, CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc and a number of local and state-level outfits against the ruling Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and BJP.

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