‘What’s wrong with ambition?’: Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter hits back at Sonia Gandhi’s memoir

Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, has questioned why Sonia Gandhi was “shocked” when her father hinted at his ambition to become Prime Minister, arguing that his aspirations were backed by decades of political and administrative experience.

The response follows the release of Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, *Belonging: A Journey of Love*, in which the former Congress president recounts a conversation with Pranab Mukherjee in 2010. She writes that he “shocked me with the suggestion that perhaps it was time for a change at the top”, which she interpreted as a hint of his long-standing desire to become Prime Minister.

Reacting to the passage, Sharmistha questioned whether aspiring to the country's top political office was something to be embarrassed about.

“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 and governance, hard work and a brilliant mind?” she asked.

‘Any politician worth his salt’ has this ambition

Sharmistha recalled asking her father directly whether he wanted to become Prime Minister. According to her, he candidly replied that “any politician worth his salt has this ambition”.

She also highlighted his rise from humble beginnings, saying he achieved his position through merit and hard work rather than inherited political privilege.

“There was no-one to serve him positions, including PM-ship, on a platter due to dynastic entitlements,” she said.

Questioning Sonia Gandhi’s reaction, Sharmistha asked what was wrong with a deserving person harbouring the ambition to become Prime Minister. She suggested that Gandhi may have been surprised that someone outside the Gandhi-Nehru family could aspire to the position and even express that desire to her.

Pranab did not hold the conversation against Sonia

In her memoir, Sonia Gandhi says she chose to steer the conversation away from the subject after Mukherjee raised the possibility of a “change at the top”. She adds that although he may have been disappointed, he never made her feel that he held her response against him.

“I gently changed the subject, and though he may have been disappointed, he never made me feel he held it against me,” she writes.

Sharmistha said her father's diaries and conversations with her supported Sonia Gandhi’s assessment. She sought to reassure the former Congress chief that Mukherjee had not harboured resentment towards her or anyone else over the exchange.

“In this same context, I read that she said she felt ‘he never held it against me’. From what I read in his diaries and whatever conversation he had with me, I would like to reassure her that he did not hold it against her or anyone else,” Sharmistha said.

Describing her father as pragmatic and deeply understanding, she added that he understood Gandhi’s reasons and the insecurities that people could experience.

Sonia recalls his election as President in 2012

Sonia Gandhi also refers to Mukherjee’s eventual elevation to the country’s highest constitutional office. She notes that the Congress nominated him as the United Progressive Alliance’s presidential candidate in 2012, and he went on to win the election.

The former Congress president says she often met Mukherjee, largely to speak with a politician she regarded as erudite and knowledgeable.

“I often called on him, mostly just to converse with the erudite and knowledgeable politician that he always remained,” she writes.

Mukherjee served as President of India from 2012 to 2017. Before that, he held several key positions in the Congress and the Union government, including Finance Minister and External Affairs Minister.