Former MP and father of MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh passes away at 87

According to his family sources, Singh's health suddenly deteriorated at his residence and he was rushed to a hospital, where he breathed his last on Sunday night.

Several political leaders, including Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, expressed condolences on his demise. CM Adityanath wrote on 'X', ''The demise of respected father of Union Minister of State Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh ji and former minister of Uttar Pradesh government and former MP Shri Anand Singh ji is extremely sad. Humble tributes!

''I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give a place to the departed soul in his lotus feet and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense sorrow. Om Shanti!''

Samajwadi Party chief Yadav wrote on 'X', ''Former minister of UP government, former MP Gonda resident Raja Anand Singh ji passed away, extremely sad!

''May his soul rest in peace. Deep condolences to the bereaved family."

Born on January 4, 1939, Singh hailed from the erstwhile Mankapur royal family. He was the son of Raja Raghvendra Pratap Singh, who had served as an MLA from the Swatantra Party.

After completing his early education at Colvin Taluqedar College in Lucknow, he pursued a BSc in Agriculture from the Agriculture Institute in Allahabad (now Prayagraj). He subsequently managed agricultural affairs of his estate.

Singh was married to Veena Singh, daughter of former Rajya Sabha MP and Barabanki MLA Bindumati Devi.

Anand Singh was married to Veena Singh, daughter of former Rajya Sabha MP and Barabanki MLA Bindumati Devi. The couple had three daughters—Niharika Singh, Radhika Singh, and Shivani Rai—and one son, Kirti Vardhan Singh, who currently represents Gonda in the Lok Sabha and serves as MoS for External Affairs, Forest and Environment.

Anand Singh entered politics following the death of his father and was elected to the UP Assembly in 1964, 1967, and 1969.

On the advice of former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, he joined the Congress, his family sources said. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Gonda in 1971, and again in 1980, 1984, and 1989.

However, in the 1991 general elections during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, he was defeated by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. In 1996, he lost the seat to Brijbhushan's wife Ketki Devi Singh, after which he distanced himself from parliamentary politics.

However, in the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, he won from the Gaura constituency, and served as the state's agriculture minister in the then SP government. After this, he retired from active politics.

Popular as the 'UP Tiger', Singh held considerable sway in the politics of eastern UP. His influence in the Gonda district was such that the party often handed him blank symbols—nomination forms without candidates’ names—for assembly elections.

It was widely believed that a nod from the Mankapur royal household was enough to secure positions such as MLA, zila panchayat chairperson, or block pramukh. His demise marks the end of an era in Uttar Pradesh politics.