The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh

Sanjaya Baru

Jul 2015 · Penguin UK

About this eBook

When The Accidental Prime Minister was published in 2014, it created a storm and became the publishing sensation of the year. The Prime Minister’s Office called the book a work of ‘fiction’, the press hailed it as a revelatory account of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s first term in UPA. Written by Singh’s media adviser and trusted aide, the book describes Singh’s often troubled relations with his ministers, his cautious equation with Sonia Gandhi and how he handled the big crises from managing the Left to pushing through the nuclear deal. Insightful, acute and packed with political anecdotes, The Accidental Prime Minister is one of the great insider accounts of Indian political life.

Ratings and reviews

Highly encapsulating book. generated a interest in me to experience the political walls of Delhi. Brought out Manmohan Singh's real position 4the 10 years as PM. Singh has done commendable work only his work is not acknowledged in the media. Had he been able to rise from shadows of his party chief and made the PMO the real centre of power, he would have got his due from the paparazzi. Yet history will remember him as a great economist and even greater Gentleman who always upheld the sanctity of his office.

A book that really gives a lot of insight in the working of PMO and the indian government. Dr. Singh on the other hand was not just an accidental PM but also a unworthy PM. More than subject expertise it is important that a PM shows leadership qualities to take the country forward. What we saw was that the country suffered due to the incompetencies of PM, Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, Coalition partners and the infighting between the bureaucrats.

It's waste of time to know about a Robotic Person who can't do anything unless those orders given by High Command Italian Madam. And his government didn't do anything better for the country except scams!

About the author

Sanjaya Baru is director for geo-economics and strategy, International Institute for Strategic Studies, and honorary senior fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi. He has been chief editor, the Financial Express and Business Standard. His other books include The Strategic Consequences of India’s Economic Performance (2007).