In 2004, many people I know heaved a huge sigh of relief when Congress President Sonia Gandhi listened to her ‘inner voice’ and decided in a stroke of genius she didn't want to be the country's prime minister, despite the confident victory fought for under her name in the general elections that year.
Back then, much of the country couldn't have been more supportive of her personal appointee, erudite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Six years on though, several Singh supporters I know feel somewhat differently. Even as the popular US magazine, Newsweek, hailed him as one of ‘The Leaders Other (world) Leaders Love’ in a cover story last month, Singh's popularity has diminished here in India.
Singh is now seen by many as ineffective, insufficiently driven and, worse, just plain uninspiring. Ironically, it's his trademark subtle and understated style that other world leaders aspire to. Newsweek said: ‘Singh’s unassuming personal style really inspires awe among his fellow global luminaries, who praise him for being modest, humble, and incorruptible’. The magazine also quoted former International Atomic Energy Agency director general and Egyptian presidential challenger Mohamed ElBaradei as saying Singh is ‘the model of what a political leader should be’.
Closer to home, a recent poll by India Today, a popular weekly news magazine, showed 29 percent of respondents saw Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi as their preferred prime minister, with only 1 percent opting for Singh, down a whopping 17 percent from his standing last year.
India Today wrote: ‘The enormity of Rahul's popularity is further magnified by the shrinking acceptability of Manmohan Singh as prime minister. His fall is so drastic and certainly embarrassing for him in his sixth year as prime minister that there seems be a clear case of disconnect between the much marketed moderniser and the unforgiving Indian public. There is only one message: Brand Manmohan has already passed its use-by date and the voters want the family (read Rahul) back in power.’
It's a sentiment I’ve heard more and more recently. So why is Singh still leader? He doesn’t seem to be the kind of person who would cling to power come what may. Apparently, though, his ‘bosses’ don't think his time is up quite yet.
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Prashant
Apparently, the author missed Manmohan’s meet with senior editors of Indian media.
As reported widely, he came across as decisive and determined, with no plans for retirement!
The problem is not that Manmohan is not doing things – a major economy growing at high rates for 6 years under his charge, when the western world is struggling – does not happen by “chance”. The problem is, he is reserved and shy, and does not communicate easily.
Hopefully, he will continue to engage with the public as he did yesterday.
Mu
This is absolutely not true. Manmohan Singh still remains very popular among Indians. In fact I believe that his popularity has only increased in the recent months. Of course, there are issues that need to be tackled. But if you look at the alternatives to Manmohan Singh you will realize how valuable he is to the people of India.
R N Aggarwal
Hi Shreyasi Singh,
Your following observation above, is Wrong:
The enormity of Rahul’s popularity is further magnified by the shrinking acceptability of Manmohan Singh as prime minister…
They compliment each other.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh knows he is there because Congress has made way for him. He is a wise & senior person and has seen success throughout his career with his actions and not politics or vote bank.
Bharti
Hi there dear….you forgot about the existence of non-congressi PM candidates or were you “requested” by Management or were you driven by “extraneous considerations” while reporting this.
It would have been gr8 had u also reported that many in India contribute the “surprise” 2010 congy victory to “efficient” Electronic Machines.
Nuff said.
Anoop
Cannot agree with this at all. The ground reality is far away from what is said here I suppose. I wasn’t exactly fond of the idea that he’ll become prime minister after the first elections, but now when I think about it, he was indeed the best choice.
Akash
The sooner this geriatric chap leaves, who constantly panders to his pre partition ethnic roots, making peace with pak, no matter what they do, the better for india.
A Ayyapan
A technocrat can not be agood manager.Our PM is good technocrate that is why he his sighing in other countries and fails at home.
Arjun
Mr. Singh is a good person and very intelligent, nobody disputes that. However he is seen as a weak leader. In these tough times with bad neighbors who threaten India-Mr. Singh is the wrong person for the job. I would prefer Nitin Gadkari as the PM. We need a strong leader, not just a teacher who cannot teach anyone a good lesson.
Narashimha Reddy
Mr.Manmohan Singh is a Technocrat and not a Politician and so often others have to highlight his achievements, which are many. He was the architect of India’s economic reforms under the able leadership of Mr.P.V.Narashimha Rao. If not for P.V.Narashimha Rao, the Gandhi clan would have continued the corrupt socialist license Raj economic policies till date.
The only fault of Mr.Singh is that he listens too much to the USA and ignores the real voice of India. The latest policies of Mr.Singh both in the economy and foreign affairs appear to be focused towards pleasing the USA. Why should India’s Prime Minister try to please the USA ? He should work for India’s interest and should not be perceived as trying to please the USA.
His efforts to please USA is hurting India’s economy and India’s relations with Russia, China, Iran and several others. The Civil Nuclear Deal as much beneficial for USA as it is for India and so there is no need to bend backwards to please USA and thereby harm India’s backbone.
Johnny
Before 1991 India was a closed economy with license raj and politicians controlling every damn thing. Things were so bad that even Cycles required license (I kid you not) and India’s foreign reserve were so low that it didn’t have money to buy even two weeks worth of imports. India was heading in the direction of being a failed nation.
Then Manmohan Singh formed new economic policy despite facing extreme opposition from Communists. Manmohan ended license raj, introduced hundreds of changes in command structure and opened economy
Just 20 years later India is a booming economy well on the way to become a superpower. It is going to be worlds fastest going economy next year and all this was achieved without sacrificing freedom of people. People are free to vote, free to express themselves and media is allowed to openly express its opinion/criticise government. Something that China can learn from India.
So yeah, India loves Manmohan. If it doesn’t it will simply vote for someone else in the next election.