Late former President Pranab Mukherjee wanted to become the prime minister but Sonia Gandhi assumed that he would challenge her authority, revealed his daughter Sharmishtha Mukherjee. She also claimed that Sonia Gandhi safeguarded her and her family’s interest that’s why they made a PM who would have not challenged her authority.
"Yes, he wanted to become the PM, but he knew that he couldn't become one, so he was not in some disillusionment that he'll become a PM one day,” she said while speaking to news agency ANI on Wednesday.
“I asked him once if he wanted to become a PM and he said yes, any serious politician would like to become one but that doesn't mean that I'd become the PM,” said the former Union finance minister’s daughter.
“He said that maybe Sonia Gandhi had assumed that he might challenge the authority of Sonia Gandhi...he said that the question was not whether I would have challenged it or not but she felt that,” she added.
“Sonia Gandhi safeguarded her own and her family's interest so they made someone PM whom they felt would not challenge her authority,” Sharmishtha told the news agency.
She has penned down this episode in her upcoming book "In Pranab, My Father: A Daughter Remembers".
In the chapter titled "The PM India Never Had", Sharmistha also writes: "Following Sonia's decision to withdraw from the prime ministerial race, there was intense speculation within the media and political spheres.
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"The names of Dr Manmohan Singh and Pranab were being discussed as the top contenders for the position. I did not have the chance to meet Baba for a couple of days as he was terribly busy, but I spoke to him over the phone. I asked him excitedly if he was going to become the PM,” reported PTI.
His response was blunt, 'No, she will not make me the PM. It'll be Manmohan Singh.'
“But she should announce it fast. This uncertainty is not good for the country,” he added.
The book will be launched on late Congress veterna Pranab Mukherjee's birth anniversary on December 11 by Rupa Publications.