Sharad Pawar released a book, in which he stated that, Sonia Gandhi did not let him become Prime Minister in 1991, treating Congress party as their family fiefdom.

Coincidentally, Sharad book was released, just after the few hours of Sonia Gandhi saying that, Pawar was "a politician through and through in the best sense of that term" and the "only choice" for the post of agriculture minister during the two UPA governments.    
 
On the occasion of his 75th birthday, the book, which was named as “'Life on My Terms - 'From the Grassroots to the Corridors of Power” was released. Sonia Gandhi, Narendra Modi, the President and Vice President, were also present at the launch.

Pawan specified in the book that, Sonia brought back P V Narasimha Rao from retirement to become the PM, even though Pawar had a legitimate claim to the post, after winning maximum number of seats in Maharashtra.

Few controversial quotes from Sharad Pawar book

“Both Indiraji and Rajiv shared another tendency: jumping to conclusions in a jiffy. Without ascertaining facts they believed what they were told.”

Referring to P C Alexander convincing him to become Defence Minister: “He knew and I knew that I had been a strong contender but the Gandhi family was not about to let someone with an independent mind get to the prime minister’s post.”

Praising ex-PM Manmohan Singh, “Others in the Union cabinet cowered in fear of the First Family: what if the dynasty came to know of their support to the prime minister? I never had such fears.”

Sonia Gandhi backs Sharad Pawar

Speaking at the birthday celebrations of Pawar at Vigyan Bhavan, Sonia said, “His friendships with his political opponents and adversaries are legendary. In the modern language of IT, his networking skills are formidable and those skills are much needed when politics takes on a bitter partisan flavour, as it does every now and then. He is a politician through and through in the best sense of that term.”

Sonia said that she had known Pawar for more than two decades, but reminded that, his association with the Congress party was much longer.
 
Speaking about the disturbances with Pawar, Sonia said, “We may have differed on some occasions, as any two individuals would do in a democratic system. But what has always been there is our respect for each other and the mutual belief that the legacy of our founding fathers should be protected, preserved and promoted.”

"Although Pawar parted ways with us, the Congress and the NCP have been valued allies," Sonia added.

Applauding Pawar’s contributions to the horticulture, Sonia opined that, he is the only choice for the agriculture minister role and that made him be in the position for a record 10 years (2004-2014).  

Unwilling to involve in any rivalry with Pawar, Sonia dealt with great care and came out of the occasion, with smiles on either faces.

By Phani Ch