Thread by @SandipGhose

Among other things, #PranabMukherjee was said to have the memory of an elephant. Remembered the minutest detail from years ago.

Remember an interview of Arun Shourie by @ShekharGupta in #WalkTheTalk when UPA2 was floundering. He told SG that - had it not been for #PranabMukherjee who was the only person who had credibility within the Congress and with the Opposition the government would have collapsed.

Perhaps, the unkindest cut was - when Manmohan Singh went for his coronary bypass surgery #SoniaGandhi refused to name #PranabMukherjee the interim No 2 despite his being the senior most in the cabinet (she formed a joint committee with AK Antony. Such insecurity.

#PranabMukherjee would not have become the President left to the Congress and #SoniaGandhi. In fact, as per media reports, Rahul Gandhi was keen on Sam Pitroda. It was @MamataOfficial who put her foot down and made him the consensus candidate. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sam-Pitr…

Tho’ Bengalis (including me) will for chauvinistic reasons take pride in #PranabMukherjee being President of India (the joke ran - before the height of a Bengali’s political ambition was to become President of The Calcutta Club) - Pranab-Babu’s contribution to Bengal was minimal.

The near decimation of Congress in Bengal can be largely attributed to the political rivalry between #PranabMukherjee and AB Ghani Khan Choudhury. In fact, there was a popular theory about an understanding between #Pranab-Babu and Jyoti-Babu (Bose) to leave the Left Front alone.

Undoubtedly, #PranabMukherjee’s biggest contribution was to uphold the dignity of the President’s office. He helped @PMOIndia in bilateral relationships by many important foreign visits. PM @narendramodi has on several occasions acknowledged the sage counsel of #Pranab-da.

This would have no doubt disappointed the Congress high-command, which was apparent in the party’s lukewarm response to #PranabMukherjee’s #BharatRatna and displeasure at his attending the RSS function in #Nagpur.

#PranabMukherjee demonstrated his strength of character - by not letting any bitterness come in the way of his relationship with the Gandhis despite being repeatedly denied his rightful place. Some feel even his daughter was not given a deserving role in Delhi PCC because of him.

Reportedly both the Ambani brothers called #PranabMukherjee ‘uncle’ as he was their father’s friend. He was put in a delicate position during the Ambani family feud - when both MDA and ADA would call on him (sometimes on the same day) seeking his intervention as Finance Minister.

It is rumoured that after taking count of the number of PSU Bank branches opened and ATMs installed in #PranabMukherjee’s constituency during his tenure as Finance Minister, one of his successor ensured there were more Branches and ATMs in his constituency. #RIPPranabDa

Finally, one wishes #PranabMukherjee left behind a “tell-all” autobiography. His memoir was too restrained - holding back more than it revealed. Perhaps, his daughter @Sharmistha_GK and son @ABHIJIT_LS will publish it some day. Till then our heartfelt condolences 🙏 #RIPPranabDa