Exactly 34 years after he first became a member of the party’s apex decision-making body during the Indira Gandhi era — the Congress Working Committee (CWC) — in 1978, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee received an affectionate farewell from its current members on Monday, three days before he files his nomination papers for election to the post of President of India.
At a special meeting held at Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s 10 Janpath residence, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh acknowledged that Mr. Mukherjee’s departure for Rashtrapati Bhavan would leave a gaping hole in the Union Cabinet:
“The Prime Minister said he had huge responsibilities in government and his [Pranab’s] loss will be felt,” Congress general secretary and media chairperson Janardan Dwivedi told journalists after the meeting.
Mr. Mukherjee will officially resign from the posts he holds in the government on Tuesday. On Monday night, officials of the Ministry hosted a farewell party in his honour.
If Ms. Gandhi’s description of Mr. Mukherjee as an extremely capable person, and the CWC’s “senior-most” member, and her expressing confidence that he would win the Presidential election by a huge margin and bring glory to the country appeared somewhat muted for the occasion, her son and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi compensated for it by spending an hour in Mr Mukherjee’s North Block office immediately after the CWC meeting. “We learned a lot from him,” Mr. Gandhi said later, adding: “It is a matter of great happiness that he is going to become the President.”
Indeed, currently, Mr. Mukherjee, in addition to being Finance Minister and trouble-shooter for both the party and government, heads as many as 13 of the 27 Groups of Ministers (GoMs) and all 12 Empowered Groups of Ministers. Home Minister P. Chidambaram is second in terms of governmental responsibilities, heading 10 GoMs, while Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar heads two, and Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde head one each.
Simultaneously, Mr. Mukherjee played a critical role in all eight Cabinet committees, dealing with issues as diverse as economic affairs, parliamentary affairs, political affairs, prices, security, WTO, infrastructure and the Unique Identity Authority of India. And in the party, apart from being in the CWC, he was also a member of the powerful Core Group. Come Thursday, he will renounce all these positions.
On his part, a visibly moved Mr. Mukherjee told the CWC members that he had received far more from the party than he had given it. He had always considered himself as a true Congressman and done whatever he thought was best for the party. Recalling his long association with the CWC, he said he had met the Prime Minister as part of his farewell meetings. He thanked the party for all the cooperation extended to him and for making him the party’s Presidential nominee.
Party sources said that initially, it is likely that the Prime Minister will keep the Finance portfolio, even though the GoMs may be distributed. Indeed, at the press briefings he addressed during his recent trip abroad, Dr. Singh virtually outlined a road map for the economy. As for the long-pending Cabinet-reshuffle, the sources said it would take a while.
Others who spoke at Monday’s CWC meeting were Mr. Antony, party treasurer Motilal Vora, former Nagaland Chief Minister S.C. Jamir and senior leader R.K. Dhawan. Mr. Antony pointed out that Mr. Mukherjee would soon become the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces.
Of the 36 CWC members and Permanent Invitees invited to the meeting, 30 were present.
Prominent among the absentees were Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh and Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, both of whom were not in town. Karan Singh, current titular Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, an aspirant for the Presidential post, and a Permanent Invitee to the CWC, was also absent.
60 and 90 rupees for a dollar and gbp in few days...u better leave and sit as a president signing papers and visiting other developing countries because we are well developed...
No doubt Pranab is a good administrator & niche politician. But in his own party and he is aware of corrupt people running free & continue doing loss to the Exchequer. Presidential post is a highest honoured chair in india & chair is the face of the world!!! When you step into a presidential post you need to be selfless & you must be truthful. If he is honest enough, before he steps into the presidential post, he should bring out the truth which he is aware of what congress is covering up till date & they are continue doing the wrong things. Have a respect for the highest chair! if your conscience are true than you deserve the post by itself & people will appreciate you to be a president. You know everything & still step up to the post it is biggest shame to the country!!!
Should Pranab Mukherjee, a highly respected leader of the Congress party take Rahul Gandhi spending an hour in his North Block office as a great honour? At least the author of the above report seems to think so!
Mr. Pranab Mukheerjee's ascent to the post of the President of India is welcome. His role should be taken by the PM to manage the most important portfolio of Finance and not leave it for experimentation.
Is it good riddance or a VERY DANGEROUS MOVE by Congress.Pranab was a minister during the EMERGENCY- Revenue and Banking.Fakhruddi Ali Md was the President who declared the emergency.The only people who supported the emergency other than the congress and its tail were Mother Theresa ,Kushvant Singh and Vinoba Bhave.The nation honpoured two of them with Bharatha Ratna. Mamata did well to oppose his selection. But our great CPI(M) supports him.I would have understood if CPI supported him as that party was ruling Kerala with the congress during the period. Will this become the biggest folly of Karat and co after installing the first UPA and controlling India till they were kicked out by Pranab and co.
I think of few possibilities 1) He is taking the retirement from all political responsibility which he holds with in Congress and cabinet at a time where downfall of congress is near and before anything bad comes to all those responsible for financial crimes happened recently in country like 2G scams which are making huge losses to economy and one of the reason for country's growth rate lower than expected. President post will make him inert from all such high tides. 2) There is no other candidate in congress which can contest president election with strong support then him, he is having good relations with other fellow parliamentarians. 3) May be he don't want to compromise on principles which is creating conflicts between him and congress's current ideology and working style. 4) Once he(Pranab Mukherjee) is out of congress, then path for Rahul Gandhi will be clear for congress to project him as next Prime Minister of India, because Manmohan's debacle.
Above Picture is enough to depicts a grim future of India.
Where is Mr.Pranab going, to Andaman or Antartica? He will be in a different palace in Delhi, why so much waste of time by Congress Ministers, PM and Sonia in these dramas. No one has visited Mahi's family, the little girl who fell into the bore well, but they shed tears because someone is changing rooms.
It is good to see him go out of the Finance ministry.Mukku faced a difficult period of 4 years but he did nothing worthwhile to improve the situation. Only kept promising and never fulfilled his promises. A good economist or a business man should be the next FM. The congress Kitty is almost blank of good financial wizards and the politician in the FM seat will only further worsen the situation.Hence, can't expect anything to improve.
It is indeed a great loss to the Government and the void will be felt deeply. The statement by Ms. Sonia that he is a highly capable man is absolutely true . What will happen to India after he leaves is unknown. His ability and vision is unsurpassed in the whole world. This man having fudged all the finances of India and brought to shame its currency by bringing from 44 to 58 just in a matter of few days is even capable of higher damages to India but he has to go. India's vast resources and wealth is so huge that a series of blunders and mismanagement cannot even make a noticeable dent and to such a economy this man dealt a great blow easily from which the country many never recover. What a talent and intelligence now will be wasted in a ceremonial job. I strongly feel that his assignment should have been the head of the IMF so that he could have shown how to destroy the world economy even faster. His departure will indeed be a great loss to India.
If Pranabda is very competent, able and others have a lot to learn from him (accolades from the first family) why is he being forced out of active politics and government and sent to pasture in Rashtrapathi Bhavan? I am sure he did not want to be demoted.
Mr. Pranabh Mukherjee started his political carrier in the center through proxy i.e as Rajya sabha member since sixtees except for his election as Lok Sabha MP in 2004 1and 2009. It is a known fact only those loyal to the party or shown utmost loyalty to the Party chief can become Rajya Sabha MP. President of India is required to act independently and impartially, Can he do that?. Can he come out off the subordination over night. Mr. .Mukherjee utterly failed as Finance Minister perhaps his chief might wants support as a President of India and perhaps Mr. has no other alternate. May God save India.
The New President is no way different from the old one, since both were backed by congress.and MR Pranab is just a old wine in the new bottle. It is most unfortunate, that In the biggest democracy of India, we could not find the really true honest, and sincere person for the post of a President and it is only a political selection.Because most of the honest persons, does not seek position nor being backed by any party/members.This is the evil side of a democratic country. Either sangma, or abdul kalam can not navigate the country, from the hands of politicians.
It will be a shame if Mamata from Bengal does not support a son of the soil, Pranab for the post of President. Pranab has always been a fair leader in dealing with issues. President is above politics and several parties are supporting Pranab on merits. Now that the Candidate proposed by her is not contesting,Mamata should be gracious enough to make suitable amends and support Pranab, a fellow Bengali to the post of President.
The way is clear for Rahul Gandhi to become future PM.Two birds with one stone.
Gaping hole in his cabinet!!!! What about the gaping hole in the moral core of this government?? The people should go to the polls in 2014 and put a gaping hole in the ability of Congress government to stay in power.
After making a mess of the economy and protecting the hoarders of black money Mr Pranab Mukerji is getting the largest palace in the country to retire and reflect on his career filled with sycophancy.
MR.Pranab Mukherjee,unarguably is the best person for the office of president considering his huge experience as a politician and clear personal image.He has done quite a good job as he has hold many important ministries over the years and probably the only congress leader to have good rapport with opposition leaders.Hope he will do justice to his reputations in the office of president...
Good if he becomes president..
Good riddance :)
though mukherjee was the best candidate available to the congress for presidentship,if one goes by his track record as politician, v hope that he would not be a rubber stamp at rashtrapathi bhavan anyway as far as mr mukherjee who has been waiting in the wings with an eye on the pm chair,this is the best that he could aspire for in a party which goes more by loyalty to Nehru family than talent as first criteria for its candidates to any office.
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