Pranab Mukherjee wanted to replace Manmohan Singh as PM in 2010, reveals Sonia Gandhi
In her autobiography, Sonia Gandhi reveals Pranab Mukherjee wanted to replace Manmohan Singh as PM in 2010 during UPA rule.
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu ) – Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi has shared an interesting anecdote about the power and leadership struggle within the Congress party during the UPA government led by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in her autobiography, "Belonging: A Journey of Love." Sonia Gandhi revealed that former President and Congress veteran Pranab Mukherjee had indirectly expressed his desire to become Prime Minister during a private conversation in 2010. He had hinted that the time had come for a change in the top leadership. Sonia Gandhi took this comment as a sign of Pranab Mukherjee's long-held ambition to become Prime Minister.
According to Sonia Gandhi, this incident occurred during the second UPA government at the Centre, and Dr. Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister. In addition to regular core group meetings, which were formed to coordinate between the Congress and the government, a strategy group also met. These meetings discussed issues to be raised in Parliament. Pranab Mukherjee was also an important part of these meetings and often stayed back for informal conversations with Sonia Gandhi after the meeting.
The indication was given amid differences with Chidambaram
Sonia Gandhi writes in her book that at that time, there were serious differences between Pranab Mukherjee and the then Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram. One day, after expressing her displeasure, Pranab Mukherjee suddenly told her that perhaps it was time for a change in the top leadership. According to Sonia Gandhi, this comment surprised her. She interpreted it as an indirect hint of Pranab Mukherjee's long-held desire to become Prime Minister.
Sonia writes that she subtly changed the topic of conversation. She thought Pranab Mukherjee might be disappointed, but he never let his behavior indicate any resentment.
He ran for president in 2012
Nearly two years after this development, the Congress-led UPA nominated Pranab Mukherjee as its presidential candidate in 2012. He won the election and became the 13th President of India, serving from 2012 to 2017. Sonia Gandhi also praised his political experience, knowledge, and personality in her book.
There was a division of responsibilities between the Manmohan Singh government and the Congress organization.
In her autobiography, Sonia Gandhi also addresses questions about her role during the UPA government. She denies allegations that, even when Dr. Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister, actual government decisions were made at her behest. According to Sonia, there was an unspoken division of responsibilities between the government and the organization. Dr. Manmohan Singh led the government, while she was responsible for the Congress organization.
She wrote that as Congress president, she could offer suggestions to the Prime Minister and express disagreement with him, but she considered it her responsibility to respect his constitutional position and authority. She added that she wanted to avoid any situation that could lead to misunderstanding between the Prime Minister and the party leadership or weaken the government.
These memoirs of Sonia Gandhi have brought to the fore a new political context regarding leadership within the Congress during the UPA regime, the claim for the post of Prime Minister and the relations between various centres of power