When Sharmistha Mukherjee asked her father about her chances of becoming Prime Minister in 2004, Pranab Mukherjee, referring to Sonia Gandhi, said that she cannot make me the PM.
In her book “In Pranab, My Father: A Daughter Remembers”, Sharmistha has mentioned the former President’s reaction after Sonia Gandhi’s decision to withdraw from the race for the post of Prime Minister.
The former Congress spokesperson has mentioned his father’s brilliant political life in this book.
He has also said that he has no animosity towards Sonia Gandhi for not making him the Prime Minister. He also has nothing against Manmohan Singh.
By compiling her father’s diary, personal stories narrated to him and her own experiences, Sharmistha Mukherjee has revealed new and hitherto unknown aspects of Pranab da’s political life in her book.
Let us tell you that Pranab Mukherjee served as the Finance Minister of India and later became the Minister of External Affairs, Defence, Finance and Commerce. He was the 13th President of India (2012 to 2017). He died on 31 August 2020 at the age of 84.
Sonia Gandhi, president of the Congress, the largest party that won the Lok Sabha elections in 2004, was expected to become Prime Minister. He had the full support of the coalition partners.
However, he gave up his claim for the post. His decision surprised the people of the country including his own party colleagues and alliance partners.
In the chapter titled “The PM India Never Had”, Sharmistha Mukherjee writes: “There was intense speculation in the media and political circles following Sonia Gandhi’s decision to withdraw from the race for the post of Prime Minister.
The names of Dr. Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee were being discussed as the top contenders for this post. I did not get a chance to meet Baba for a few days because he was very busy.
I spoke to him on the phone. I asked him excitedly if he was going to become PM. His blunt answer was, ‘No, she will not make me PM. Manmohan Singh will be the PM.”
She further writes that there was no disappointment in her father’s mind about not being made the Prime Minister. This realization was not found anywhere in his diaries. He told a journalist that he had no expectations from Sonia Gandhi that she would make him the PM.
According to the book, it is generally believed that Pranab Mukherjee had a chance to become PM not only in 2004 but also in 1984 after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Sharmistha Mukherjee says people often asked her whether her father really had the ambition to become PM.
Sharmistha writes, “When I asked my father a question about becoming PM during UPA-1, his response was strong. He said, ‘Of course, I would like to become Prime Minister. This is the ambition of any capable politician. But just because I want it doesn’t mean I’m going to get it.” She writes, “Pranab Mukherjee certainly had a desire to become Prime Minister, but he also had to accept the fact that he was not going to be Prime Minister.”
On May 17, 2004, Pranab Mukherjee wrote in his diary, “Sonia Gandhi has decided to withdraw from the candidature for the post of Prime Minister. BJP’s vicious campaign raised the names of me, Manmohan, Arjun, Ahmed Patel and Ghulam Nabi. We are shocked.”
On May 18, he wrote, “Sonia Gandhi stands firm on her decision. Countrywide movements are taking place. Allies are also surprised. The CPP meeting is emotionally charged. “They have been appealed to reconsider.”
On May 19, almost with a sigh of relief, he wrote, ‘The issues have been resolved. Manmohan Singh became the designated Prime Minister. Manmohan and Sonia ji met the President and the President was happy to give Manmohan Singh the mandate to form the government.”