Sonia Gandhi explains why she chose Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister
In her new memoir, the former Congress president describes why she selected Singh to lead the government in 2004.
Sonia Gandhi has shared insights into why she selected Manmohan Singh to serve as Prime Minister in 2004, according to reports by Times Now and Telangana Today. The former Congress president detailed the decision in her new memoir, "Belonging: A Journey of Love", which was released on Tuesday.
Gandhi stated that she viewed Singh as a person of "unquestionable" integrity with a profound grasp of governance. She noted that his leadership would address concerns regarding the ability of the government to maintain policies started in previous years.
The memoir explains that Singh, a member of the Congress Working Committee, was an experienced economist who introduced economic reforms as finance minister in the early 1990s under Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. Gandhi said he was not aligned with any specific camp within the party.
Gandhi recalled that after she decided to decline the prime ministerial post, she consulted senior colleagues. She noted that no one contested Singh's name due to his reputation and experience. She also mentioned that Singh initially declined the role but was eventually convinced to accept the position.
The book also covers Gandhi's personal history, including her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi and the various tragedies that affected the family. It details her transition to life in India and the political events surrounding the 2004 election victory.