It was the area where he could articulate his vision for India in a changing world, and project his personality, without coming into conflict with the priorities and the profile of the Congress president," Baru wrote.
Baru said an attempt by him to give the prime minister credit for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) scheme, which had been brought out by the Prime Minister's Office, was not liked by the Congress high command.
The party was projecting it as an achievment of Rahul Gandhi and Baru's SMS to an editor "half in jest" that it was the PM's birthday gift to the nation fetched him an admonition from the prime minister.
"Let them take all the credit. I don't need it. I am only doing my work. You just write my speeches for me. I do not want any media projection," Manmohan Singh said, according to the book.
Baru said, "Dr Singh had a powerful story to tell about his achievements as prime minister, but he invariably shied away from telling it.