Kunwar Anand Singh: A Life of Political Influence
Early Life and Education
Kunwar Anand Singh was born on January 4, 1939, into the royal family of Mankapur. His father, Raja Raghvendra Pratap Singh, was a former MLA from the Swatantra Party.
Singh attended Colvin Taluqedar College in Lucknow. He then went on to earn a degree in agriculture from the Agriculture Institute in Allahabad (now Prayagraj). After completing his studies, he took over the management of his family’s estate.
Political Journey
Kunwar Anand Singh stepped into politics following his father’s death. He won a seat in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in 1964, 1967, and 1969. Later, he joined the Congress party, following the advice of then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Singh secured victory in the Gonda Lok Sabha seat in:
- 1971
- 1980
- 1984
- 1989
However, he faced defeat in the Gonda seat during the 1991 general elections amid the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He lost again in 1996. After these setbacks, he took a step back from national politics.
Singh made a comeback in 2012. He won the Gaura Assembly seat and served as the agriculture minister in the Samajwadi Party government. He later retired from active politics.
Influence and Legacy
Nicknamed the ‘UP Tiger’, Anand Singh wielded significant influence in eastern Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the Gonda district. His political clout was so strong that party leaders often handed him blank nomination forms, trusting him to pick winning candidates.
A blessing from the Mankapur royal family was widely believed to secure local leadership positions, such as:
- MLA
- Zila Panchayat Chairperson
- Block Pramukh
Family and Survivors
Kunwar Anand Singh passed away on Sunday night at the age of 87. His health suddenly worsened at his home in Lucknow, and he was rushed to a hospital where he took his last breath.
Singh is survived by:
- His wife, Veena Singh
- Three daughters: Niharika Singh, Radhika Singh, and Shivani Rai
- His son, Kirti Vardhan Singh, who currently serves as MoS for external affairs, forest, and environment
Tributes from Political Leaders
Political leaders from various parties expressed sorrow over his passing. UP CM Yogi Adityanath shared on X:
“The passing of Hon Union Minister of State Shri Kirtivardhan Singh Ji’s revered father and former Uttar Pradesh government minister and former MP Shri Anand Singh Ji is extremely sorrowful. Humble tributes!”
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also paid tribute, calling the former MP’s passing “extremely sad.”
