I would have accepted Manmohan as a statesman , had he get himself elected through popular vote into the Lok Sabha.
I would have accepted Manmohan as a statesman , had he not resorted to aayaram-gayaram politics & dissolved lok sabha to seek fresh mandate.
I would have accepted Manmohan as a statesman , had he remained graceful like Vajpayee & submitted his resignation ( Remember 13 day government in 1996) only to come back as a morally stronger Prime Minister.
The obvious comparison comes to play a crucial role to decide whether Manmohan is a Statesman. Vajpayee, once in 1996 & again in 1999, made graceful exit once he realised that majority is not with him. He never looked desperate to cling to post of Prime Minister. Manmohan did just the opposite. He has proactively adopted all means, fair & foul, to remain Prime Minister. People of India will deliver their verdict on Manmohan in the same way it has done so on Narasimha Rao in 1996.
