If Pranab Mukherjee was more qualified to become the Prime Minister of India, then why did Manmohan become the prime minister?

When was the Congress most democratic (internal democracy) after death of Sardar Patel? The answer is 1991-96 under the leadership of PV Narsimha Rao. Tirupati Congress session of 1992 was perhaps the height of internal democracy in Congress in last 40-45 years. Even though PV Narsimha Rao became PM due to Sonia Gandhi’s support (Rao was 2nd choice of Sonia Gandhi after Shankar Dayal Sharma), he turned the table on Gandhi family by bringing internal democracy.

Pranab Mukherjee may well have become another PV Narshima Rao. Gandhi Family might not have forgotten the so-called incident in flight after death of Indira Gandhi. As per Rajv loyalists, Pranab Mukherjee told Rajiv Gandhi that most senior most person in Cabinet should become PM (like Guljari Lal Nada). Rajiv misunderstood Pranab Mukherjee and though that Pranab Mukherjee wanted to become PM ahead of him. Later Pranab Mukherjee was sidelined from Congress and he was forced to quit Congress. But Pranab Mukherjee has always denied that incident. But no one can deny the fact that Pranab Mukherjee is an ambitious politician (even though he had less influence on ground).

Manmohan Singh was not a true politician at that time. He was an economist & bureaucrat having little political ambition. Manmohan Singh was honest & intellectual person and had a good image due to his FM tenure in Mr. Rao’s government. On the contrast, Pranab Mukherjee was a seasoned politician who had rebelled against Gandhi family once and could have taken control of Congress party from Gandhi family. Pranab Mukherjee has mentioned few reasons for him not becoming PM like he was non-Hindi speaker & Congress was weak in West Bengal etc. Like Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee had no real following on ground (in fact he won 1st Lok Sabha election in 2004) and both were not good orator in Hindi. If I have to listern to a speech in Hindi, I would prefer Mr. Mukharjee than Manmohan Singh. Manmohan Singh also has no role in Punjab and in fact he contested 1999 election from South Delhi constituency.

The main reason was that Gandhis wanted to keep Congress as their family enterprise and Manmohan was the perfect man for the job. In fact, Gandhi family increased their grip on Congress during Manmohan Singh’s twin term (2004-14).