Kalam was willing to appoint Sonia Gandhi as PM

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Ending speculation that had raged on for four years as to whether former President APJ Abdul Kalam was unwilling to appoint Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister, it has been disclosed that he had a letter of appointment ready for her.

CJ: Kumar Ashish

Sun, Apr 20, 2008 15:02:41 IST

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APJ Abdul Kalam News :

ENDING SPECULATION that had raged on for four years as to whether former President APJ Abdul Kalam was unwilling to appoint Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister, it has been disclosed that he had a letter of appointment ready for her.

Giving first insights to what transpired at Rashtrapati Bhavan during that period, PM Nair, secretary to Kalam, says the former President was advised to sign the letter, shake hands with Gandhi and congratulate her. Kalam was also told to ask Gandhi when she would like to be sworn in.

Four days after the general election threw up a mixed result with no single party having a majority, the President asked, “What do we do?”

Nair in his book ’The Kalam Effect: My years with the President’, said the President was advised that he should satisfy himself that there is a party or a coalition of parties, which could form a stable government and then invite the leader of that party or coalition to form the government.

“So, what do I do? he asked noting he cannot wait indefinitely.”

On the advice of his aides, the President sent a letter on May 17, 2004, inviting Gandhi to Rashtrapati Bhavan that very day.

Kalam was told that Gandhi will come with letters of support from various parties. “You do not have to read all of those. Just leaf through them and ring the bell,” Nair suggested to the President. Nair was waiting in the adjacent room with the letter of appointment.

The book would hit the stands on April 21.

Nair says that there was no suggestion at all from Kalam to Sonia not to become Prime Minister.

With the issue of Gandhi’s foreign origin being raked up, there were speculations in the media that the President had advised the Congress chief against occupying the key post.

The Kalam-Gandhi meetings were brief and courteous, the only purpose being to hand over the letter appointing Gandhi as Prime Minister, recalls Nair.

“I waited in the ADC’s room, alert for the bell, armed with the letter (yet to be signed) from the President appointing her the Prime Minister of India.

Minutes ticked. The bell rang. I hurried out with the papers, only to see Gandhi and Singh leaving,” recounts Nair.

Kalam then told Nair, “You told me she would come with letters of support, but she came just for discussions. She said she would come again tomorrow with the letters of support from other parties.”

The President said that he had told Gandhi “Why wait till tomorrow? I am available any time this afternoon or this evening. You please come as soon as you are ready with the papers. My papers are ready for you.”

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