Singh reflects on the failure of the merger with Jan Sangh, holds Bajpayee responsible

12 June 1969

Reflecting on the failure of the merger, Charan Singh singled out the Jan Sangh’s handling of the matter. From Vajpayee’s failure to attend meetings or show sufficient interest, to stringing the BKD along without any stern resolutions and making accusations in the media insinuating that the merger had been motivated simply by personal ambition, it is clear that by this time they had lost Singh’s confidence. It will also serve as an important reminder that the BKD had reduced the Jan Sangh’s presence in the state electorally by a huge margin in the mid-term elections, to the point that 175 of their candidates lost their deposits.