Pranab Mukherjee right to be upset for not being chosen PM: Manmohan Singh

Speaking at the launch of former President Pranab Mukherjee's new book 'The Coalition Years: 1996-2012', Manmohan Singh said "Pranab da has a right to have this grievance for not being chosen for top post".

"But then I had no choice", he added.

Back in 2004, when Sonia Gandhi nominated Manmohan Singh instead of Pranab Mukherjee despite his seniority. It is believed that it left Pranab Mukherjee miffed. Incidentally, Pranab Mukherjee as the Finance Minister in 1982 had appointed Manmohan as the Reserve Bank Governor.

"As Finance Minister we (Singh and Mukherjee) also worked closely. Then came 2004 when Soniaji chose me to be the Prime Minister and Pranabji was the most distinguished colleague that I had. He had every reason to feel the grievance that he was better qualified than I was to become the Prime Minister but he also knew that I had no choice in the matter. And therefore that smoothened our relationship," Singh said with Mukherjee by his side at a function.

Pranab Mukherjee never publically expressed his reported disappointment.

"After the Congress victory in General Elections 2004, the prevalent expectation was that I would be the next choice for prime minister after Sonia Gandhi declined", he told India Today in an exclusive interview .

Manmohan Singh during the launch also mentioned that this appointment did not impact their relations. Mukherjee too reiterated the same and told India Today that during Singh's tenure as prime minister he was consulted on all important issues and seemed to depend on him. "We shared a good working relationship", he said.

Singh also said they ran the government as a cohesive team of which Pranab Mukherjee was the most important member.

"I do not recall any matter or serious issue on which we had differences of opinion. I took note of the fact that he was one of the senior most members of our party, was my senior most colleague and together with Sharad Pawarji and Pranab Mukherjeeji, I had the greatest regard and respect", he said during the launch. 

The event was organised for the launch of the third volume of Mukherjee's autobiography titled "The Coalition Years-1996-2012". Congress President Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader S. Sudhakar Reddy, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, BSP MP Satish Chandra Mishra and DMK MP Kanimozhi were also present.

(With inputs from IANS)