In his latest book, Mani Shankar Aiyar suggests the UPA-II era could have been salvaged by swapping Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee's roles in 2012. This strategic shift, he argues, might have forestalled Congress's 'paralysis of governance' and the devastating 2014 electoral defeat.

Aiyar claimed several crises, particularly Anna Hazare's 'India Against Corruption' movement, “were either not handled effectively or not handled at all”

Mani Shankar Aiyar shares insights on the Gandhi family's critical role in his political life, citing communication barriers and leadership challenges faced by the Congress party.

Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, in his latest book, argues that Pranab Mukherjee should have been made Prime Minister in 2012 instead of Manmohan Singh, who was then recovering from health issues.

Mani Shankar Aiyar`s new book reveals why Pranab Mukherjee should have been PM in 2012, preventing UPA`s downfall. A critical analysis of UPA-II`s governance.

Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, in an exclusive interview with news agency PTI, recounted how the Gandhi family played a part in both his rise and his subsequent marginalisation within the party.

Mani Shankar Aiyar argued that Congress's decision to retain Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister despite his declining health led to governance paralysis and ultimately doomed the party's chances of forming UPA-III.

The 83-year-old Aiyar states in the book - 'A Maverick in Politics' - that the UPA would not have gone into a "paralysis of governance" if Pranab Mukherjee was made the Prime Minister and Manmohan Singh would have been elevated to President when the office of Rashtrapati presented an opening in 2012.