Read the passage and answer the question:

In January 1977, after eighteen months of Emergency, the government decided to hold elections. Accordingly, all the leaders and activists were released from jail. Elections were held in March 1977. This left the opposition with very little time, but political developments took place very rapidly. The major opposition parties had already been coming closer in the pre-Emergency period. Now they came together on the eve of the elections and formed a new party.

What is the name of the leader of the Bhartiya Lok Dal and a farmers' leader from UP who was among the 3 leaders being considered for being the next Prime Minister of India in the Janata government?

Charan Singh

The correct answer is Option 1 - Charan Singh

Charan Singh, the leader of the Bhartiya Lok Dal and a farmers' leader from UP was among the 3 leaders being considered for being the next Prime Minister of India in the Janata government.

The Janata Party government that came to power after the 1977 elections were far from cohesive. After the election, there was stiff competition among three leaders for the post of Prime Minister- Morarji Desai, who was the rival to Indira Gandhi ever since 1966-67; Charan Singh, leader of the Bharatiya Lok Dal and a farmers’ leader from UP; and Jagjivan Ram, who had vast experience as a senior minister in the Congress governments. Eventually, Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister but that did not bring the power struggle within the party to an end. The Janata Party split and the government which was led by Morarji Desai lost its majority in less than 18 months. Another government headed by Charan Singh was formed on the assurance of the support of the Congress party.