How Manmohan Singh Surpassed 5 Leaders to Become India's Prime Minister in 2004

After Sonia Gandhi declined to take the position of Prime Minister, several prominent leaders from Congress were considered for the role. Among them were Pranab Mukherjee, Arjun Singh, Shivraj Patil, N.D. Tiwari, and P. Chidambaram. However, Sonia Gandhi chose Manmohan Singh over these five leaders. The question arises: Why?

On May 18, 2004, the Congress-led UPA was set to form the government after defeating Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government. Sonia Gandhi was initially expected to become the Prime Minister. However, a shocking revelation came when Ram Vilas Paswan, after confirming with Sonia Gandhi's advisor Ahmed Patel, learned that Sonia would not assume the position. The news was soon flashed in the media, leaving the coalition partners wondering who would become the Prime Minister. That’s when the name of Manmohan Singh emerged as a surprise candidate.

In 2004, after Sonia Gandhi’s refusal, Manmohan Singh, who was then the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, was chosen to be the Prime Minister. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam even hinted at this possibility, but the official announcement came only at the last minute.

The 5 Key Contenders for the Prime Minister's Position After Sonia Gandhi's Refusal

Following Sonia's refusal, five leaders were seen as potential candidates for the Prime Minister's post:

Pranab Mukherjee – As the most senior Congress leader, Pranab was considered a strong contender. Having served in various key ministerial roles during Indira Gandhi’s time, he was highly respected in the party. Despite being a top choice, he never became Prime Minister and later served as the Finance and Defense Minister in Manmohan's government.

Arjun Singh – A close ally of the Gandhi family, Arjun Singh was considered a prominent figure for the role. He had a good relationship with Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi and had served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Later, he became the Education Minister in Manmohan's government.

N.D. Tiwari – A former Chief Minister of both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, N.D. Tiwari was another close ally of the Gandhi family and was also considered a prime ministerial candidate. However, he didn’t make it to the top post.

Shivraj Patil – A prominent leader from Maharashtra, Shivraj Patil was also in the race for the Prime Minister's position. He had a strong hold on Mumbai's political scene and later served as the Home Minister in Manmohan's government.

P. Chidambaram – An economist, Chidambaram was seen as a possible choice for Prime Minister to balance the southern and northern factions of the party. He had held multiple ministerial roles, including Home and Finance Minister, during Manmohan's tenure.

How Manmohan Singh Won the Race?

Three major factors worked in Manmohan Singh's favor:

Neutrality and Lack of Factionalism – Unlike the other candidates, Manmohan Singh was not associated with any faction within the Congress. At the time, Congress was dealing with internal divisions, particularly between the northern and southern groups. Sonia did not want to risk such factionalism again, which had harmed the party during Narasimha Rao’s tenure.

Non-Political Status – Manmohan Singh’s lack of a strong political background worked to his advantage. With Rahul Gandhi entering politics, assigning the Prime Ministership to another political leader could have complicated the path for Rahul's future political career. Manmohan’s neutral, non-political image made him a safer choice.

His Track Record – As the Finance Minister, Manmohan Singh had played a crucial role in steering India out of an economic crisis, which made him a visionary leader. In 2004, the Congress made several promises related to economic policy and employment, and Manmohan Singh was seen as the ideal leader to fulfill these promises.