Sonia Gandhi writes Pranab Mukherjee once hinted at wish to become PM

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has written in her new memoir that the late Pranab Mukherjee once shocked her in 2010 by hinting at a desire to become Prime Minister and suggesting a change at the top. The book, titled 'Belonging: A Journey of Love' and published by HarperCollins, hit bookstores on Tuesday ahead of its official launch on November 16.

Details

During meetings of the Congress Strategy Group, Mukherjee would sometimes stay back to talk with Ms. Gandhi after expressing frustration over serious differences with then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram. Ms. Gandhi wrote that she gently changed the subject when he made the remark, and he never made her feel he held it against her. The late Mukherjee had served in Indira Gandhi's Cabinet in the 1970s and was part of a core group that coordinated government and party functions with Dr. Manmohan Singh, alongside Arjun Singh, A.K. Antony and Ahmed Patel. Ms. Gandhi also noted she often visited Mukherjee after he became President in 2012 to talk with the knowledgeable politician.

Reactions

Sharmistha Mukherjee, the late President's daughter, hit back at Ms. Gandhi by asking on X if it was a crime to be ambitious. She wrote that her father had candidly told her any politician worth his salt has the ambition to become Prime Minister, backed by decades of experience and hard work. The memoir also touches upon Ms. Gandhi having practically no real contact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting he tends to look away at semi-official gatherings. Additionally, the book recounts her strained relationship with Maneka Gandhi, detailing domestic differences that spilled into politics and Indira Gandhi's displeasure with Maneka's political activities after the Emergency.

Context

Memoirs written by senior political leaders often shed light on past internal party dynamics and key decisions made behind closed doors. Political figures frequently use autobiographical books to share their personal perspectives on decades of public service and historical events. Such releases routinely spark public discussions and reactions from family members or political opponents mentioned in the pages.