THE COALITION YEARS

The Coalition Years begins its
journey in 1996 and explores the highs and lows that characterized sixteen
years of one of the most tumultuous periods in the nation’s political
history. It is an insightful account of the larger governance phenomenon in
India—coalition politics—as seen through the eyes of one of the chief
architects of the post-Congress era of Indian politics.From the inexplicable
defeat of the Congress in the 1996 general elections and the rise of regional
parties like the TDP and the TMC, to the compelling factors that forced the
Congress to withdraw support to the I.K. Gujral government and the singular
ability of Sonia Gandhi to forge an alliance with diverse political parties
that enabled the Congress to lead the coalitions of UPA I and II, Pranab
Mukherjee was a keen observer and an active participant in the contemporary
developments that reshaped the course of the country’s political, economic
and social destiny.Beyond the challenges, complications and compulsions of
coalition governments, this book is also a recollection of Mukherjee’s
journey as the Cabinet Minister in the key ministries of defence, external
affairs and finance, beginning from 2004. He recounts each of these events
with candour—the path-breaking meeting with Henry Kissinger in 2004 that
altered the course of the Indo–US strategic partnership, his timely advice to
Bangladesh Army Chief Moeen Ahmed in 2008 that led to the release of
political prisoners there and the differing views with RBI Governor D.
Subbarao on the structure of the FSDC.The third volume of Mukherjee’s
autobiography is a sharp and candid account of his years at the helm. It
offers the most authoritative account of contemporary Indian politics by one
of the tallest leaders and statesmen of our generation.