New Delhi: Contrary to the perception that the Congress leadership had blocked the then media adviser to the Prime Minister Sanjaya Baru’s return to the PMO in 2009, sources in Prime Minister’s Office revealed that it was the “administrative lobby” which had played “a key role” in the entire process.
Sources disclosed that “some bureaucrats in the PMO were instrumental in keeping Mr Baru out”. Countering hints that the Congress initiated the move to keep Mr Baru out, sources said that the “administrative lobby in the PMO was mainly against the move as they did not want an outsider to advise them constantly on crucial issues.”
Writing about his possible return to the PMO, Mr Baru stated that the issue had created problems with the Congress. The Prime Minister, who had apparently taken the initiative for Mr Baru’s return, later told him that he could not do so. “To tell the truth, I was dismayed by the PM’s display of spinelessness,” Mr Baru wrote in his controversial and hot-selling book, An Accidental Prime Minister Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh.
“Spineless or not, Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, apparently feels ‘betrayed’ by the book, an official in the PMO said. The man who once earned the title of “Singh is King” is all set to quit his office somewhat discredited and lonely, seems to be the feeling in the PMO.
Reminded that Dr Singh could be the first Prime Minister, who has virtually been kept out of the electioneering process with the Gandhi clan spearheading the campaign, some in the PMO felt that he has “kind of switched off.” So far, the Prime Minister had addressed four rallies.
