Texan Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 Your top 3 and worst 3. Here are mine: TOP 3: #3: PV Narasimha Rao - For bringing our economy back from the brink of bankruptcy, PVNR, hailed much after he was gone, was the architect of modern India's liberalization policies. #2: AB Vajpayee - For heading a co-alition government during a time when India experienced political turmoil with many Prime Ministers and leading a non-Congress govt for the full 5 year term for the first time in Indian history, ABV was widely respected as an elderly statesman even among political opponents. His major contributions included nuclear armament, extending friendly relations with America, which until his time was marred with distrust, attempting to build peace with Pakistan but giving a befitting reply in Kargil too. The Indian economy started picking up during his time. #1: Lal Bahadur Shastri - Way before my time, but was widely regarded as one of the best PMs ever. He has significant contributions in a short span of time. A man of utmost integrity, one is left to wonder if he had continued as PM, how much could he have accomplished. Worst 3 coming soon....
Texan Posted July 5, 2015 Author Posted July 5, 2015 Worst 3: #3 Charan Singh #2 Indira Gandhi #1 VP Singh Reasons coming soon
Texan Posted July 5, 2015 Author Posted July 5, 2015 Narrowly missing out in Top 3 - Jawaharlal Nehru Narrowly missing out in Worst 3 - Manmohan Singh
randomGuy Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 #1 modi : : *daylight* : : #2 manmohan of upa 1 #3 Indira - only for '71 war.
diga Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 best in no particular order Indira Gandhi / Vajpayee/ PV Narasimha Rao worst in no particular order Indira Gandhi/Rajeev Gandhi/Manmohan Singh of UPA-2
diga Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 ABV and shastri wasnt Shastri's tenure too small to judge him? He did well in the 2 years he was at the top
Texan Posted July 5, 2015 Author Posted July 5, 2015 Reasons for my worst 3. #3 Charan Singh - Wasted a golden opportunity to have a non Congress government complete a full term by playing petty politics. Took Indira Gandhi's support to topple Morarji Desai, only for Gandhi to withdraw support almost immediately. What followed was 10 more years of rule by the Gandhis and people even forgave Indira for all the oppression of the Emergency days. #2 Indira Gandhi - Strong contender for even topping this list. Cultivated culture of sycophancy that we see till today in the Congress party. Also, established Gandhi family's monarchical command over the party. Abused every law that could possibly be abused (Emergency, article 356), inculcated a culture of dictatorship and even rigged elections. The victory over Pakistan in 1971 was a silver lining, but was followed by the Shimla agreement in which (I feel) India gave way too much leeway to Pakistan. Seriously strong contender for the worst PM ever. #1 VP Singh - What is worse than a corrupt PM? A PM who masquerades as an anti-corruption crusader only to fulfill one's own political ambitions. This prior incarnation of Arvind Kejriwal was in my opinion the worst PM ever despite his brief tenure because he single handedly brought caste-based politics back to the forefront of Indian politics, just to counter the rapidly rising BJP. For the fact that he tried to divide India on caste lines, he deserves to be called the worst Prime Minister India ever had.
Texan Posted July 5, 2015 Author Posted July 5, 2015 wasnt Shastri's tenure too small to judge him? He did well in the 2 years he was at the top It was, but in the short time - he did start the White Revolution and we also won a war with Pakistan. He was a man of utmost integrity and one of the few leaders of the time that was realistic in his approach to foreign relations and not idealistic like Nehru.
diga Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 It was' date=' but in the short time - he did start the White Revolution and we also won a war with Pakistan. He was a man of utmost integrity and one of the few leaders of the time that was realistic in his approach to foreign relations and not idealistic like Nehru.[/quote'] yes.. I know that. just that over a longer term , Shastri's policies could have been judged much better
zen Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 It is hard to judge India's PMs as many of them have not been able to show their true potential due to coalition politics. Some of them have been appointed because of party politics or the need to step-in Below is the list of those who have enjoyed solid support / numbers in the LS: * Nehru (16 years) * Indira (11 years + 4 years) * Rajiv (5 years) * N Rao (4 years) * ABV (6 years) * Manmohan (10 years) * Modi (Present) Interestingly all of the above have (and will have) their pros and cons And then there were the musical chair PMs as well. Many of whom probably did more harm than good and were an insult to the PMO
zen Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 It was' date=' but in the short time - he did start the White Revolution and we also won a war with Pakistan. He was a man of utmost integrity and one of the few leaders of the time that was realistic in his approach to foreign relations and not idealistic like Nehru.[/quote'] Not everyone appreciates the terms of the Tashkant Agreement signed under LBS's leadership though, esp. the return of Haji Pir pass which is widely debated
zen Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 Interesting articles: 7 blunders that will haunt india for posterity/ A different PoV on the return of Haji Pir Pass Haji Pir Pass in 1965 myth and the reality/
zen Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 And there are also people such as Bose and Patel who never got the opportunity to be the PM, but had the potential to bring at least resilience, planning and common sense to the table
The Outsider Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 Reasons for my worst 3. #1 VP Singh - What is worse than a corrupt PM? A PM who masquerades as an anti-corruption crusader only to fulfill one's own political ambitions. This prior incarnation of Arvind Kejriwal was in my opinion the worst PM ever despite his brief tenure because he single handedly brought caste-based politics back to the forefront of Indian politics, just to counter the rapidly rising BJP. For the fact that he tried to divide India on caste lines, he deserves to be called the worst Prime Minister India ever had. I am no fan of VP Singh, in fact quite the contrary but your reasoning is plain wrong. 1. The BJP rode upon his anti Rajiv crusade in '89 to register an increase from 2 to 82 due to strategic seat sharing with Janta Dal. 2. BJP's Ram Janmabhoomi rath yatra was in retaliation to VP Singh's Mandal commission implementation, contrary to what you are portraying above. It was after that the BJP rose rapidly. You need to check your chronology of events.
BeautifulGame Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 I am no fan of VP Singh, in fact quite the contrary but your reasoning is plain wrong. 1. The BJP rode upon his anti Rajiv crusade in '89 to register an increase from 2 to 82 due to strategic seat sharing with Janta Dal. 2. BJP's Ram Janmabhoomi rath yatra was in retaliation to VP Singh's Mandal commission implementation, contrary to what you are portraying above. It was after that the BJP rose rapidly. You need to check your chronology of events. Is there a decent book(in English) that deals with the politics around that time in north India? Mandal comm Ram Janma Bhoomi Rise of RJD SP etc
Texan Posted July 6, 2015 Author Posted July 6, 2015 I am no fan of VP Singh, in fact quite the contrary but your reasoning is plain wrong. 1. The BJP rode upon his anti Rajiv crusade in '89 to register an increase from 2 to 82 due to strategic seat sharing with Janta Dal. 2. BJP's Ram Janmabhoomi rath yatra was in retaliation to VP Singh's Mandal commission implementation, contrary to what you are portraying above. It was after that the BJP rose rapidly. You need to check your chronology of events. Interestingly your point #1 completely contradicts your point #2. Strategic seat sharing alone does not get you from 2 to 85. Pretty lame statement to make. BJP as a political force was on the upswing and VP Singh wanted to check its rise. I am aware of the chronology of events.
Texan Posted July 6, 2015 Author Posted July 6, 2015 Not everyone appreciates the terms of the Tashkant Agreement signed under LBS's leadership though' date=' esp. the return of Haji Pir pass which is widely debated[/quote'] The whole Tashkent Agreement is shrouded in mystery. India should have renegotiated terms citing mysterious circumstances.
Kalia_Test Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 Where do Deve Gowda,Chandrasekhar and IK Gujral fit in - all were less than 2 years I think but I see Charan Singh and LBS in discussion? Gujral screwed us by withdrawing all our RAW assets in Pakistan IIRC.
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