•VARGHESE K. GEORGE: Did the chart mention the possibility of your becoming prime minister one day?

No one can predict something like that. They may say that a person will get a political opportunity or some such thing.

•RAVISH TIWARI: Who first suggested that you become prime minister?

When Vajpayeeji demitted office after 13 days, all the non-Congress and non-BJP chief ministers were invited to Delhi. I was one of them. On television I was asked what, if any, role would I play in Delhi. I replied, “I am not going to cross the boundaries of Karnataka.” We assembled in Delhi and took a unanimous decision to make V.P. Singh the prime minister but he declined. Then we prevailed upon Jyoti Basu; he accepted, and we thought the matter was settled. The next day, he told us that the CPM Politburo was divided over the issue and he could not split the party at this late stage of his life. We tried to persuade him. The meeting was adjourned, and when we reassembled, Jyoti Basu suggested my name. I folded my hands, I cried, I told him you have 18 years’ experience and I have only 18 months, I have not even travelled through the entire country. That evening, I went home and told my wife. As for me, I went to sleep.

•SHEKHAR GUPTA: Not many politicians have your capacity to fall asleep. Even when you had to take a big decision of being the prime minister, you went to sleep . . .

... contd.