Sharmistha Mukherjee, the daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, has refuted Sonia Gandhi's claim of being 'shocked' by his hint at a potential Prime Minister role. In a public statement, she questioned whether it was a crime to be ambitious and emphasized her father's decades-long political experience and merit-based achievements. This response comes after Sonia Gandhi's memoir mentioned a 2010 conversation where Pranab Mukherjee suggested the need for a change at the top, which she interpreted as a hint towards his PM aspirations during Manmohan Singh's tenure. Sharmistha defended her father's ambition and questioned Sonia's surprise at someone outside the Gandhi-Nehru family aiming for the post of Prime Minister. The statement also highlighted Pranab Mukherjee's significant roles in the UPA government, including his service as Defense, External Affairs, and Finance Minister between 2004 and 2012, before becoming President.