New Delhi, Oct 13 (PTI) Former prime minister ManmohanSingh today said ex-president Pranab Mukherjee had everyreason for grievance at being ignored for prime ministershipdespite being more qualified but knew "I had no choice" in thematter, and that smoothened their relationship.
Singh's comments at the launch of Mukherjee's book--'Thecoalition years--in the presence of Congress president SoniaGandhi and her deputy Rahul Gandhi left the audience insplits.
"In 2004 when Soniaji chose me to become the primeminister, Pranabji was one of the most distinguishedcolleagues that I had.
"He had every reason to feel a grievance that he wasbetter qualified than I was to become the prime minister, buthe also knew that I have no choice in the matter," the formerprime minister said as the audience, including Sonia Gandhiand Rahul, burst into guffaw.
Mukherjee wrote in his book that after the 2004 electionvictory there was intense speculation in the party about whowould be the prime minister, but the consensus within theCongress was that the incumbent should be a political leaderwith experience in party affairs and administration.
"The prevalent expectation was that I would be the nextchoice for prime minister after Sonia Gandhi declined. Thisexpectation was possibly based on the fact that I hadextensive experience in government," he wrote.
Mukherjee also said that when he declined to join thegovernment headed by Manmohan Singh, Sonia insisted on hisbeing a part of it as he would be "vital to its functioningand also be of support of Singh".
Mukherjee, in his speech at the book release function,decribed the Congress as a coalition in itself, as it bringsall ideas on one platform.
"It was difficult to have one coalition within andanother outside. But that was done," he said.
Mukherjee said in the book he has described the coalitionyears and tried not to bring in any personal matters. He saidrunning the coalition government seemed difficult buteverything worked out smoothly.
Mukherjee said in writing the book about the coalitionyears of 1996 to 2012, he did not claim the objectivity of ahistorian, which he is not, but put down things while viewingthem as a political activist.
Singh said with their relation smoothened, they ran thegovernment as a cohesive team. He said history would recordMukherjee's great contribution to the management of Indianpolity.
The former prime minister described Mukherjee as the"most distinguished living parliamentarian and Congressman",whom everyone in the party looked up to for discussing andresolving ticklish and difficult issues.
"He is a politician by choice. He is the greatestpolitician living in the country. I became a politician byaccident when P V Narasimha Rao asked me to become the financeminister," he said.
Singh described Mukherjee and NCP chief Sharad Pawar asrespected senior members of his government both of whom wereof great calibre. He said if the UPA government ran smoothly,a large measure of credit would go to Pranab Mukherjee.
While Sonia Gandhi and Rahul did not speak nor sit on thedais, a number of leaders including CPI-M general secretarySitaram Yechury, CPI Secretary Sudhakar Reddy, SP leaderAkhilesh Yadav and DMK leader Kanimozhi spoke.
Akhilesh Yadav, in his brief speech, said Mukherjee'sbook would come in handy for young politicians like him whenelections are due just like good notes ahead of exams.
He also said people look forward to another coalitionas elections draw closer. Akhilesh, who was recently re-elected the SP president, said people earlier dealt with hisfather Mulayam Singh Yadav but would now deal with him.
Yechury said Pranab Mukherjee has an "elephant-likememory", remark that prompted Sonia Gandhi to quip he had thememory of "two elephants". PTI SKC SKSK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.