Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said former President Pranab Mukherjee was right to feel upset when Congress chief Sonia Gandhi named Singh the prime minister after the United Progressive Alliance won the Lok Sabha election in 2004, PTI reported.
Singh made the remarks at the launch of Mukherjee’s new book, The Coalition Years, 1996-2012, in the presence of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. “He [Mukherjee] had every reason to feel a grievance that he was better qualified than I was to become the prime minister, but he also knew that I had no choice in the matter,” Singh said, with Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul bursting into a laughter, PTI reported.
In the book, Mukherjee has said that after the election victory in 2004, there was a prevalent expectation in the party that he would be chosen as the next prime minister following Sonia Gandhi’s refusal to take the post. However, he says, she reminded him: “Pranabji, you are most eminently suited for the office but you should not forget the crucial role you are playing in the functioning of the government. Could you suggest a substitute?”
At the book launch, Singh also described Mukherjee as the greatest politician living in the country. He said Mukherjee and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar were the two people of his government with great calibre.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!