World · India Bureau
Sonia Gandhi recalls Pranab Mukherjee's 2010 remark on PM position
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has recalled a 2010 conversation with former President Pranab Mukherjee, raising questions about his aspirations for the Prime Minister's office during the Manmohan Singh era.
LSN India ·

In a significant disclosure about internal political dynamics of the previous decade, Sonia Gandhi has referenced a remark made by Pranab Mukherjee in 2010 that suggested potential interest in the Prime Minister's position. The conversation occurred during a period when Manmohan Singh was serving as Prime Minister under the United Progressive Alliance government led by the Congress.
Mukherjee, who later served as Finance Minister and subsequently as President of India, was a senior Congress leader at the time. Gandhi's recollection of the 2010 interaction provides insight into the political calculations and ambitions that existed within Congress leadership during that period.
The revelation comes against the backdrop of broader discussions about power dynamics within the Congress party and the distribution of top constitutional positions among senior leaders. It underscores the complex interplay of personalities and ambitions that shaped Indian politics during the Singh administrations.
Mukherjee went on to serve as Finance Minister from 2009 to 2012 before being nominated for the presidency. He served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017 and passed away in 2020. The disclosure by Gandhi adds a historical dimension to understanding the leadership structures and political maneuvering of that era.