This refers to T N Ninan's column "PM as a politician" (Weekend Ruminations, January 4). The Congress should not have held this press conference since the prime minister came off no better than the assessment of his critics. It was a sad farewell speech, more so when this economist while heading the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-I, had largely delivered. But the politician in him remained enigmatic since he never went to town on his good performance. The unexpected windfall of 206 seats for the Congress in UPA-II only helped open up inherent fault lines in the party. As in UPA-I, the PM remained not only tongue-tied but inert to boot. That the UPA-II lasted for two years since late 2011 should be ranked as a political miracle. Even on the eve of his fading tenure, we saw apologetic references to the decade of achievements under his watch. It is frank to admit that Singh never intended to make history, but only to be judged by it. The damage done, the outgoing PM is content to warn of a greater one should Narendra Modi take the reins next.
R Narayanan, Ghaziabad
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