In her new memoir, Sonia Gandhi describes a 2010 conversation where the late veteran leader suggested a change at the top.
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has revealed in her memoir, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’, that the late Pranab Mukherjee once hinted at his desire to become Prime Minister. According to the Indian Express, the conversation took place in 2010 while Manmohan Singh was serving his second term as Prime Minister.
Gandhi wrote that Mukherjee, who was then a minister, suggested it might be time for a "change at the top." She stated she understood this as a hint of his long-held ambition and that she gently changed the subject. Gandhi noted that while he may have been disappointed, he never held it against her.
The memoir also mentions that Mukherjee had developed serious differences with then Finance Minister P Chidambaram at that time. Mukherjee later served as the President of India from 2012 to 2017 before his death in 2020.
Responding to the revelation on X, Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of the late leader, questioned why Gandhi was shocked. She stated that her father believed any politician worth his salt has such an ambition and that his achievements were based on merit rather than dynastic entitlements.
In the book, Gandhi also addressed allegations regarding her interference in government matters. She described an unspoken division of responsibility where the government functioned under Dr. Manmohan Singh and the party functioned under her.
