Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: In his book A Maverick in Politics, senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has suggested that Pranab Mukherjee should have been made Prime Minister in 2012, while Manmohan Singh could have been elevated as the President of India. According to Aiyar, this move could have prevented what he described as a “paralysis of governance” during the latter half of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-II government.
Governance Challenges Under UPA-II
Aiyar, who served as a minister in UPA-I, criticized the Congress leadership’s decision to retain Singh as PM and shift Mukherjee to Rashtrapati Bhawan, claiming it “doomed” the party’s chances of forming UPA-III.
“In 2012, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh underwent coronary bypass surgeries, which affected his physical capacity and slowed governance. Simultaneously, Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s health also deteriorated, creating a vacuum in leadership,” Aiyar wrote.
He pointed to the government’s mishandling of key crises, such as Anna Hazare’s ‘India Against Corruption’ movement, as evidence of the administration’s stagnation during this period.
A Missed Opportunity
Aiyar argued that Mukherjee’s leadership as PM could have revitalized the government, while Singh’s elevation to the President’s office would have suited his stature as a distinguished statesman.
“Pranab Mukherjee’s memoirs suggest that this arrangement was contemplated. However, for reasons unknown, Sonia Gandhi decided to retain Dr. Singh as PM and send Mukherjee to Rashtrapati Bhawan,” Aiyar noted.
The Congress veteran added that this decision left the UPA vulnerable to criticism. “The Indian media lambasted the government, and Timemagazine’s damaging cover story called Singh a ‘Do Nothing Prime Minister’,” he recalled.
Concerns Over Mukherjee’s PM Prospects
Aiyar acknowledged that Mukherjee’s “Left-wing reputation” might have unsettled the business community and foreign allies like the United States. However, he emphasized that no one else in the Congress possessed Mukherjee’s vast experience and ability to lead a coalition government.
“If Mukherjee had been made PM, the UPA might have avoided governance paralysis, preventing the BJP’s rise to power and the subsequent emergence of Hindutva in 2014,” Aiyar argued.
The Aftermath
Reflecting on the decision, Aiyar noted that Mukherjee himself speculated in his memoir that Sonia Gandhi’s initial consideration of Singh for the presidency might have been an indication of plans to make Mukherjee the PM. However, this never materialized, leaving the Congress with weakened prospects.
Aiyar’s book provides a candid account of internal Congress dynamics during UPA-II and offers insights into decisions that, he claims, shaped India’s political landscape in the years that followed.
