The death of former President Pranab Mukherjee has revealed what his life had kept secret. The uneasy relationship between her two sons, Sharmishtha Mukherjee and Abhijit Mukherjee, both in politics.
The current theme between the brothers is the upcoming release of the ‘Presidential Years’, the former president’s latest book that has already created a stir.
In the book, the late congressional veteran had made scathing references to both former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA President Sonia Gandhi.
Abhijit has now written to the publishers asking them not to publish the book until he reads it and accuses it of being malicious. He tweeted: “I, the son of the author of the memoirs” The Presidential Memoirs “ask you to stop the publication of the memoirs, as well as motivated excerpts that are already floating on certain media platforms without my written consent.”
Soon after, his sister replied. “Daughter of the author of the memoirs ‘The presidential years’, I ask my brother @ABHIJIT_LS not to create unnecessary obstacles in the publication of the last book written by our father. He completed the manuscript before he got sick. “The public dispute is also seen as a fight for the legacy of Pranab Mukherjee.
Following the rules, a son can be seen as the heir to the parental legacy, but it is an obvious fact that the former president was closer to his daughter and considered her a true heir.
She was always by his side when he traveled abroad as president, assisted him and also has a diary of the former president that has some explosive events. He left him behind and she let her reveal the details if she saw fit. Sharmistha lived with the former president at his official residence in his years after his retirement as president.
However, when it came to replying from the Pranab Mukherjee constituency, Jangipur, it was the son who was chosen and not the daughter. However, this had not diminished her importance, as those who wanted to contact the deceased veteran of Congress knew that she was the person to contact.
In the last days of Pranab Mukherjee and after his death, it was noted that Abhijit became proactive. From announcing her father’s death to receiving official condolence to visiting Mirati, the ancestral home during Durga Puja, Abhijit took many by surprise.
An observer from the family said: “This was surprising to us because we know that during the times when Pranab Mukherjee was ill, it was Sharmistha who cared for him. Also, because the father felt more comfortable with the daughter and the fact that the son was busy with his work and his family ”.
Also before, the brothers have had public discussions. In 2012, Abhijit had mocked protests over rape, saying it was being committed by “dented painted women.” Sharmistha responded by saying that she apologized on her behalf and that “as a family we do not accept these comments.
At that time too, the clue was there that the two never got along. But while Pranab Mukherjee was alive, sibling fights were kept secret, as the Congressional firefighter never wanted his family’s fights to be on the news.
However, with the passing of the political veteran, there is a political void. While both have stayed away from the Bengal elections so far, Sharmistha has excused himself from any position in the party, sources say Abhijit is a game. And, the fight to protect his father’s honor is what many say Abhijit wants to wear to try and fit into his father’s huge shoes.
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