In her memoir, Sonia Gandhi described being taken aback in 2010 when Pranab Mukherjee hinted at replacing Manmohan Singh following policy disputes with P Chidambaram. Mukherjee's daughter defended her late father, maintaining that his ambitions were built on decades of merit rather than dynastic privilege. The book also details how the Congress leadership sustained coalition stability through weekly core group meetings that included Gandhi, Singh, Mukherjee, Arjun Singh, A K Anthony, and Ahmed Patel.
Key points
Gandhi maintained firm support for Manmohan Singh despite internal suggestions proposing…: Gandhi maintained firm support for Manmohan Singh despite internal suggestions proposing an alternative leadership path.
The UPA navigated administrative friction by later nominating Mukherjee as its presidenti…: The UPA navigated administrative friction by later nominating Mukherjee as its presidential candidate in 2012.
An unspoken division of power allowed Singh to run the administration while Gandhi focuse…: An unspoken division of power allowed Singh to run the administration while Gandhi focused on managing the party.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
NEW DELHI: Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has recounted how senior party colleague Pranab Mukherjee hinted at his "long-held desire" to become prime minister during a conversation in 2010, leaving her "shocked" with the suggestion that perhaps "it was time for a change at the top."The account in her newly released memoir, however, has drawn a sharp response from Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sharmistha, who questioned why her father's ambition could have come as a surprise.Responding to Sonia's memoir, "Belonging: A Journey of Love", Sharmishtha said there was nothing wrong with a politician aspiring to become prime minister, particularly someone with her father's experience in politics and governance."What's there to get 'shocked' about? Is it a crime to be ambitious, especially when that 'ambition' was supported by decades of experience in politics & governance, hard work & a brilliant mind?" she said.
Recalling a conversation with her father, Sharmistha said she had once asked him whether he wanted to become prime minister. He had candidly replied that "any politician worth his salt has this ambition"."My father came from a very humble…
The exiled former leader faces capital punishment upon arrival after an International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her for crimes against humanity. Analysts interpret her travel request as a strategic ploy to rally loyalists and maintain party control from abroad rather than an actual plan to face execution. This calculated gambit threatens to heighten volatility as Dhaka actively seeks her extradition from India.
High-level diplomatic discussions are accelerating following consultations in Washington regarding the military conflict involving the United States and Iran. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is bringing regional perspectives directly to European and global powers in Paris. This engagement aims to address the escalating international fallout and explore pathways toward a regional peace agreement.
Northern Ethiopia is experiencing renewed instability after insurgent groups seized territory and vowed to oust the federal government. The resurgence of fighting threatens to spark a wider regional war between Addis Ababa and neighboring Asmara, which severed diplomatic ties in October. Competing Middle Eastern and African powers are actively backing opposing sides, intensifying geopolitical rivalries across the fragile Red Sea corridor.