Equations with PM and Sonia Gandhi are good: Pranab Mukherjee

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that his working equation with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is "excellent" and there is no "trust deficit" between him and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

He said even Rajiv Gandhi, with whom things were said to have "gone wrong", had said that "many things said about him (Mukherjee) I found weren't true".

At one point in an interview to India Today, Mukherjee says he was already 75 and "there is a limit beyond which you cannot go. How long do you expect me to stay. I have overstayed my wicket."

"It's very good, excellent in fact. I have worked with him for many years. He is a perfect gentleman and embodiment of courtesy and politeness," the minister said when asked about his working equation with the prime minister, "a man who once called you sir".

Asked if he had told Singh that he would stop attending cabinet meetings if he still called him 'sir', Mukherjee said, "Of course, I had to tell him that. But you know, it's a mode of address. We call everybody sir, even an unknown person."

To a question about his equation with Sonia Gandhi, "who seems to respect you but not trust you", the minister said, "there is no trust deficit or even deficit of acceptability."

The Congress veteran was asked what he thought of Rahul Gandhi becoming prime minister.

"Why don't you wait? There is a strong potentiality of Rahul Gandhi becoming prime minister because he is a popular leader of the country's premier party. The crowds he gets are amazing. I have attended some of his meetings in West Bengal.

When told that the government would be lost without him, Mukherjee said "No, I think I have done enough."

Asked if it was a no no to joining Rahul's cabinet, he said, "You are just conjecturing too much. Let's wait and see what happens."

To a question that when it comes to rewarding him there was always some excuse, Mukherjee said, "I have been rewarded enough."

When told that he was everyone's choice for the President of India except the Congress, he said, "I have been rewarded enough politically. You mentioned that I am the only minister who was part of Indira's cabinet.

"I have been a part of almost of all the Congress governments. Very few people can claim that. Why should I feel I have not not been adequately rewarded? I am a satisfied man."

Asked if he was not not a hurt man then, Mukherjee said "Not at all."

When pointed out that the president's office will be vacant again in 2012, he said, "Personally, I believe that the office of the president is not to be sought after, but is to be offered. It is the highest office. And it is always offered to a deserving person."

Asked if there were no regrets about not being offered the prime minister's job, the minister said, "There is a prime minister and he is very good and competent. India is fortunate to have a prime minister like Dr Manmohan Singh. I have great respect for him."

So does Mukherjee want to be the prime minister then?

"Not at all. I am satisfied. I have been in Parliament since 1969 and in the government since 1973 -- that is 37 years. The rate of mortality in Parliamentary democracy is very high. I have stuck to the wicket for so long. I should consider myself fortunate instead of being discontented."

Asked as chief troubleshooter of the UPA who he felt was the most difficult ally, Mukerjee said in a coalition government different political parties have different perceptions.

"We have to bring convergence by persuading them and respecting their views. Sometimes I lose my temper, even with journalists. By now, my bad temper, my short temper or my quick temper has become well-known."

Mukherjee said in the 1970s he had said 'no' to becoming chief minister of West Bengal. "There was no question of my saying no actually. At that point, Indiraji ruled it out and said, let him grow with me at the Centre."

He said finance is a good portfolio which he had always preferred as he had grown up in the field. It was his first portfolio in 1973.