New Delhi: The fourth memoir of late President Pranab Mukherjee, the Presidential Years, got released on Tuesday, in which he has written many revelatory remarks and bitter observations about the Congress party.
He even mentioned about Congress' debacle in 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, suggesting that during the tenure of UPA-II, the "lack of extraordinary leaders" reduced the establishment to a "government of averages".
In his memoir, released by Rupa publications, he stated that on the day of results of 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, he was "greatly relieved over the decisive mandate" but also "disappointed" at his party's performance.
"It was difficult to believe that Congress had managed to win just 44 seats. Congress is a national institution interlinked with people's lives. Its future is always a concern of every thinking individual," he wrote.
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While explaining the reasons for Congress' defeat, he asserted, "I feel the party failed to recognise the end of its charismatic leadership. Tall leaders like Pandit Nehru ensured that India, unlike Pakistan, survived and developed into a strong and stable nation. Sadly, such extraordinary leaders are not there anymore, reducing the establishment to a government of averages."
Mukherjee also mentioned that if he had continued as Finance Minister, he would have "ensured" Mamata Banerjee's continuation in the coalition of UPA-II as she withdrew her support in 2012 due to her demands of complete withdrawal of decision on FDI, reduction in diesel hike and raising the cap on subsidized LPG from 6 to 12 cylinders.
He wrote, "I believe that the leadership of a party in times of crisis has to evolve a different approach. If I had continued in the government as finance minister, I would have ensured Mamata's continuity in the coalition."
Pranab Mukherjee also noted that in 2004, the UPA-I would not have come into existence if the Left parties and Samajwadi Party did not extend their support to the Government. However, during the UPA-II, Left parties, Rashtriya Janta Dal and Janta Dal (United) were not a part of the coalition. Later, Trinamool Congress also withdrew its support, despite having allied with Congress in 2011 Assembly Polls in West Bengal.
Without naming anyone, he asserted that some senior Congress leaders' political "naivete and arrogance" hurt the fortunes of the party further.
The Congress leader further added, "Similarly, Maharashtra was handled badly, partly due to decisions taken by Sonia Gandhi. I would have brought back Shivraj Patil or Sushil Kumar Shinde considering the dearth of a strong leader from the state, like Vilasrao Deshmukh. I don't think I would have allowed the state of Telangana to be created. I firmly believe that my presence in active politics would have ensured that Congress wouldn't have faced that drubbing it received in 2014 general elections."
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He blamed Sonia Gandhi for being "unable to handle" the affairs of the Congress party and former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for his "prolonged absence" from the House, by which Pranab Mukherjee believed that it put an end to any personal contact of Dr Singh with other MPs.
He even advised PM Modi to take inspirations from his predecessors to enhance his presence in Parliament as he believed that mere physical presence of prime minister in the Parliament makes a tremendous difference to the functioning of this institution.
Pranab Mukherjee passed away in the year 2020 after facing COVID-19 complications and a surgery. 'The Presidential Years, 2012-2017' was the last book he had written.
