Today, Sonia Gandhi is a household name, she needs no introduction. In the firmament of Indian politics she shines as the brightest star. That is the proof of her political acumen, courage and discipline. In a way we can say that she redeemed Indian National Congress that was on the verge of slipping down into oblivion. Her clean image, charisma and connection to the family of martyrs played a huge role in the revival of her party. Her strategies paid hansome political dividends. She courageously took up the challenge of BJP and its NDA allies and successfully outwitted their old warhorses. As a result NDA lost power at the centre.
Congress party fought 2004 Parliamentary elections with allies under UPA (United Progressive Alliance). UPA got the mandate to form a coalition government and run the country. Being the largest political party of the alliance Sonia Gandhi naturally was made the Chairperson of the UPA. For that very reason that Parliamentary election was being considered to be a direct contest between Sonia Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the popular Prime Minister of NDA government who led the battle for a fresh mandate for his alliance. The political observers were of the opinion that Sonia Gandhi was no match for the coalition master, A.B. Vajpayee and his popularity.
But the election results proved them wrong. The defeat came as a shock for NDA stalwarts. For quite a long time NDA leaders could not accept the defeat and the people’s verdict. The storm of Vajpayee’s popularity was supposed to have blown away Sonia Gandhi but opposite happened. Sonia stood her ground like a mountain and blocked down the storm of Vajpayee’s popularity. The storm had fizzled out against her determination and firm stand.
The victory of UPA had cleared the way of Sonia Gandhi becoming Prime Minister of India. The alliance partners unanimously elected her their leader.
Everyone assumed Sonia was going to be the new PM. But she had not fought the Lok Sabha elections for the post of the Prime Minister. Her sole aim was to defeat so-called communal forces being rallied by BJP and put the country back on secular path for the common good and all-inclusive progress. She considered it her duty and primary obligation.
Sonia Gandhi is truly a woman of principles. She could never betray the ideals she has set for her life. Hence, sticking to her principles Sonia announced her decision on May 18, 2004 in the Congress parliamentary group meeting, “Frineds, I am in politics for the past six years. One thing is clear in my mind, as I have always been saying the post of prime ministership is not my aim. I have always thought whenever I will find myself in the situation that I am today, I will hear the voice of my conscience. And my conscience says I must politely refuse to accept this post. You’ve unanimously chosen me your leader. In doing so, you have expressed your trust in me. Because of this trust I am under tremendous pressure to remain firm on the principle that has always been guiding me.
I never hankered after power and coveting a post was not my aim. My aim always has been to defend the secular base of the nation and the interests of the poor masses of the country, that Indiraji and Rajivji were so fond of.
Towards that goal we have taken an important step. We have succeeded in a battle but war has not been yet won. It is a long and difficult struggle and I will continue to fight with full determination and force.
I appeal to you to understand my firm resolve. I urge you to accept my decision and know that I won’t change it.
At this hour our biggest responsibility is to give the country a secular government that is strong and stable.
Friends, you have given me your full support. You struggled with me bearing with all kinds of adversities. I am one of you and in the capacity of the president of the Congress party I take pledge that I will keep working for the country alongside all of you. My determination to continue to fight for my principles, views and ideals will become stronger.”
Sonia Gandhi, who in earlier years of the married life detested politics and urged her husband Rajiv Gandhi too not to involve himself in politics is today established as an astute politician forced by the circumstances. It was her political acumen and diplomatic understanding that within a short time after taking charge of the Congress party she mollified detractors within or showed them the gate to stop the infighting. Similarly by turning the election results in her favour she gave befitting reply to her opponents belonging to rival parties enduring their bitter attacks with great courage and patience.
The opposition leaders were raising hue and cry all over the country on the issue of a person of foreign origin becoming prime minister of India. Sonia Gandhi took the wind out of their sails by putting Dr. Manmohan Singh, a senior, experienced but non-political and clean image leader of her party on the post of prime ministership. A big surprise for the opponents! Commenting on this politically clever and technically wise move of Sonia Gandhi, the seasoned journalist Inder Malhotra wrote in ‘Sahara’—
‘First I must mention Sonia Gandhi who surprised everyone by refusing to accept prime ministership. Not only that, the way she proposed the name of Manmohan Singh for the highest post of executive wing won great admiration of the people. These two decisions of Sonia Gandhi have historic importance, since it will very decisively influence India’s politics.
Italy born 58 year old Sonia proved that she has better understanding of India’s soul and cultural values than the leaders who day in and day out beat the drum of Swadeshi. She gave up the chance of the highest seat of power that was within her reach and it was officially in her pocket. Of course, that decision of Sonia Gandhi immensely raised her stature in the country that puts great value to the spirit of sacrifice. Those who were whipping up the issue of her foreign origin to score a dirty goal to meet their nefarious ends suddenly fell silent. Now they bite the dust. With this dignified decision of her, to what pinnacle of popularity Sonia Gandhi reaches the coming years would show. She was so firm on her decision to select Manmohan Singh that many other Congress leaders who were coveting prime ministership were left with no choice. The scale at which her decision was welcomed is a proof that it was right on the target. Her decision begot Manmohan Singh, the 13th prime minister of India, the glory he so richly deserved.
For that decision several political strategists had been advising Sonia Gandhi for several years that she should declare Manmohan Singh as prime ministerial candidate of Congress party giving up her own ambitions for that post. They were uneasy about opponents raising issue of her foreign origin. Their logic was that the move would regain the party its old glory and stature to storm back to power with massive mandate. Sonia Gandhi did not fall to the theory prematurely. On hindsight it appeared that it was her correct move, a wise strategy. The result of the election could have been adverse had she declared herself out of the race for prime ministership before or during the poll campaign. It was a fact that common folk were voting for her. One can give up a thing only when it has come into one’s possession. That makes the true sacrifice, Sonia Gandhi concentrated her entire attention on winning the elections. When prime ministership came within her grasp she declined to wear the crown. Besides refusing to accept premier’s post she was clear and firm that only Manmohan Singh would head the new government. There were valid reasons why Sonia Gandhi and the entire country put faith in Manmohan Singh. Coincidently or accidentally this economist who stumbled into politics discharged several responsible duties with extraordinary acumen and expertise. Away from publicity and self praise Manmohan Singh went on doing his job with application. I’ve often and several times in his presence said that he is not only a brilliant economist but a very fine diplomat as well. It is nothing but diplomacy that in a single day he devalues the rupee and says in a matter of fact way, ‘It is normal process of Reserve Bank to caliberate the value of rupee’.
From then to this day Manmohan Singh has matured enough and with that he had been given greater responsibilities and today he holds top post of the country. Speaking in a press meet about his new role he proved that he was beginning to understand the finer points of foreign policy and matters related to national security.
The best thing is that the entire focus of Manmohan Singh would be on running the government while Sonia Gandhi will take charge of the political front. Sonia took entire responsibility of settling the differences between the Congress and the Left parties who were supporting the government from outside. She was the highest authority of the party and due to her sacrifice was held in high esteem by others.
Sonia Gandhi was drawn into politics due to circumstances and natural compulsions, She may never have even imagined herself of entering the political arena. After the tragic assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi, her son Rajiv Gandhi had to join the active politics. Neither Sonia nor Rajiv liked it but it had become a call of duty. The younger politician son of Indira Gandhi, Sanjay had died in an air crash. Rajiv had to come into politics to help his mother. In the similar way Sonia Gandhi too had to come into politics under similar compulsions.
After the rule of Narsimha Rao Congress was fast receding from the political scene. The party was suffering from mutiny, infighting, dissensions and directionlessness. Congress party appeared without any credible leadership. On the other hand Sonia Gandhi was also feeling some emptiness in the social works she was engaged in without being political or having a political image. That fact also pushed her towards politics. Infact, Congress party had been nurtured by Nehru-Gandhi family with its blood, sweat and sacrifices.
How could Sonia see that party going to shambles.
Sonia Gandhi formally joined Congress party and assumed the leadership role as its elected President. So hard she worked to revive the party and win the trust of the people that later the United Progressive Alliance was able to form government at centre. Then she sacrificed chance to be Prime Minister in favour of Manmohan Singh. In this respect the ‘Dainik Jagran’ editor Sanjay Gupta wrote in an article—
“In the 57 year old history of independent India for the first time it has happened that a leader even after being selected by people’s representatives declined to take Prime Minister’s post. The decision of Sonia Gandhi not to accept prime ministership was unexpected in every way. It stunned the nation and deeply impacted national politics. Although even before the elections Sonia Gandhi did not stake claim to prime ministership yet Congress Working Committee had taken a decision if the party wons elections, Sonia Gandhi would become Prime Minister. After election results were out, the Congress Parliamentary Board and alliance partners chose her their leader her. Her refusal to take the top job was a message to the people that Sonia Gandhi did not covet power. Many people and congressmen lauded her decision and the sacrifice was called in line with the Indian cultural tradition. That decision of Sonia raised her stature very high amongst present day politicians in public mind.
In the first sitting of the Congress Parliamentary Board when Sonia was chosen leader it looked she was ready to become Prime Minister. Same was the impression when allinace partners accepted her name. But after meeting that President she changed her stance. Some people were saying that she yielded to the pressure that Sushma Swaraj and Uma Bharti created through their anti-Sonia statements. These ladies threatened to resign and Govindacharya declared he would launch a nationwide movement on the issue of foreign origin. There were others who also were whipping up foreign origin issue. May be, some role it played or did not matter, nothing can be said with RSS ideologue certainty. As far as the silence of NDA leaders on the matter of Sonia becoming PM or not becoming was understandable. Infact, NDA leaders were so sure of their victory that even in their wildest dreams they had not expected Sonia Gandhi to emerge as a claimant to the prime ministership. During their reign they had not bothered to make any law that barred people of foreign origin from becoming PM or holding high posts. They did raise the issue of foreign origin after getting defeated to hide their discomfiture. But when Sonia declined the premier post NDA was left with no mud to sling at her. The issue was politically and emotionally dead. On the contrary they had to explain what foreign origin issue was doing in deep freezer when they were in power for so long?
After the announcement of the decision of Sonia Gandhi to decline Prime Minister’s post there were a lot of demonstrations in front of her house and elsewhere. The Parliamentary Board members begged Sonia with tearful eyes to take back her decision. It became clear Congress party was united behind Gandhi family and it was dependent on her. After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and uninspiring performance of Narsimha Rao as PM, the support base of Congress got badly eroded. Sonia Gandhi, with her capable leadership controlled the damage and repaired erosion. Today, Sonia is undisputed master of Congress party. She will remain leader of the Congress Parliamentary group and president of the party. There is no scope of any challenge emerging for her.
It may be argued that Congress stands behind Sonia because she is a member of Gandhi family and Congress flock can stay together only in such a situation. Inspite of this it would be very foolish to underestimate her leadership capacity and quality. Her spurning the PM post can be a great stratagem. Since Sonia shall remain the leader of the Congress Parliamentary group the party had to make amendment in its constituion. The amendment indicates that inspite of her not becoming premier she wanted to keep the party lined up faithfully behind her. So far according to Congress constitution the leader of the parliamentary group used to become PM or the Leader of Opposition.”
By presenting Manmohan Singh as the prime ministerial candidate Sonia Gandhi had killed two birds with one stone. First, she cleared the way for a non-controversial and able economist to the top job of running the country and second, she silenced her critics and buried the foreign origin issue. Becoming of soft spoken Manmohan Singh selected as Prime Minister came as a big relief for the country. No one could raise a finger on his ability, qualification, talent and dedication. He made it clear in his very first press conference that he was PM by the grace of Sonia Gandhi and he would look up to her for important political decisions. He asserted he won’t be a centre of power. It was the first time that someone was the leader of Congress parliamentary group and PM was some other one. How it would work, only the future could tell. UPA formed the 1st and 2nd coalition governments with the Congress as nucleus.
Coalition government has its own problems. Manmohan government had to deal with them. The biggest challenge in the first term of UPA government was coping with the left parties.
Left Dilemma of Manmohan : The biggest contradiction was support of the Left parties. As finance minister Manmohan Singh had put Indian economy on a new path of liberalisation ending the licnece-quota regime. The leftists were dead set against liberalisation as they refused to see the changing global financial scenario. Their minds were frozen in cold war era and Vietnam war. So, Manmohan Singh was not the person of their liking. They only went along UPA because the most important need at that time was to rid the country of so-called communal politics of BJP and strengthen secularism.
Meanwhile liberalisation policy of Manmohan Singh had done wonders to Indian economy. The country was on way to becoming economic power of the world. Manmohan Singh was set to push for more liberalisation to keep the growth gaining bigger momentum. Left leaders were bound to play spoil sports and put hurdles in his way. The issues of Public Sector Disinvestment, Foreign Direct Investments, Special Economic Zones, Opening up Insurance sector to foreign companies were points of disagreements. The government went ahead with economic reforms as far as it could while Sonia Gandhi kept the Left forces mollified.
Manmohan Singh’s pro-Western tilt also greatly irked Left leaders who saw red in everything American. Infact these leaders suffered from psychopathic hatred for USA that always had been enemy of socialism. Thus foreign policy also became the issue of discord.
Nuclear Deal with USA : Manmohan Singh wanted to end the nuclear isolation of India because due to absence of nuclear fuel supplies Indian reactors were facing shutdown. Lack of superior technology was proving a great handicap. India badly needed nuclear facilities to meet its future energy needs of enormous proportions. The only answer was pollution free nuclear power generation that had great quantum leap advantage.
Dr. Singh worked out a Indo-U.S. Civilian Nuclear Deal with President George Bush to end the isolation. Left leaders cried foul. The government went ahead with the deal. The Leftists issued ultimatum. Manmohan Singh stood his ground, pushed the deal on. Sonia Gandhi understood the importance of deal for the future of India and stood by her chosen man. The Left stalwarts like Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechury, A.B. Bardhan etc fumed and withdrew support to Manmohan Singh government. Smajwadi Party of Mulayam-Amar Singh came to the rescue of the UPA Meanwhile, BJP led by Advani saw in it a golden opportunity to pull down Manmohan government on flimsy grounds. Infact, Advani always mocked at Manmohan Singh calling him the weakest and the most worthless prime minister India ever had. L.K. Advani had a psychopathic dislike for the gentle P.M. Under a bizarre delusion Advani lived that he was the rightful candidate for the PM’s post.
Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh decided to face the combined challenge of Left and Right in the parliament. After a debate voting took place. It went in favour of Manmohan-Sonia 275-256.
The battle had been won.
But later unprecedented price rise caused some discomfort to UPA government, Manmohan and Sonia Gandhi.
26/11 Mumbai Terror Strike : On November 26, 2008 ten Pakistani terrorists struck at India’s financial capital, Mumbai enacting the worst carnage at Leopold Bar, Tajmahal Hotel, Trident, Nariman House and CST railway station. Hundreds lost their lives in the brutal killings. The nation was shocked and felt humiliated. UPA government faced severe criticism. The opposition launched severe attack on Sonia Gandhi’s Manmohan government terming it weak and incapable of handling terrorism. The government retrieved the situation by creating unprecedented world pressure on Pakistan to act against terrorists who bred on its soil.
2009 Parliamentary Election : In the above background 2009 Parliamentary elections were held. NDA projected L.K. Advani as its prime ministerial candidate. The opposition appeared confident of victory as it thought price rise, terror attacks and ‘weak prime minister’ label on Manmohan Singh would win the battle for them. Infact L.K. Advani and Mayawati, the ‘Third Front’ prime ministerial candidate were already strutting around as PMs. L.K. Advani was concentrating at declaring Manmohan Singh as the weakest PM unworthy of India and saying things in uncharitable language. Others of his front were following his example.
Meanwhile Sonia Gandhi firmly declared that Manmohan Singh would be leading the next government. Some of her own allies and partners were not clearly forthcoming about it. Some even threw hints they may contest the prime ministerial issue when the results were out. Some alliance partners even fell out to chart their own ways. But Sonia Gandhi had faith in the people and the sincerity of Manmohan Singh. She knew the people would understand what difficult period they and the government were facing. Again she was right on the dot. The people rejected rabble rousers, communal conspirators, impostoring patriots, power hungry political groups, third front farce and voted Congress, Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh back to power with bigger support than that of 2004. This time Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh with alliance partners reached near majority mark with Congress bagging 206 seats compared to 143 it won in 2004. It was a shattering blow to ambitions of L.K. Advani and Mayawati which left them speechlessly licking their wounds. Inspite of crippling price rise, terrorist attacks, lax law and order situation and anti-incumbency factor Congress and allies had scored a massive victory to the utter disbelief of political pundits. Something had seriously gone wrong with the calculations of BJP and its allies. Clearly the people had reposed faith in the sincerity of Sonia Gandhi and honesty of Manmohan Singh. They had rejected power hungry and foul mouthed leaders of opposition groups. The voter had sensed that in a difficult period change of the government would upset the applecart of the country. Sonia Gandhi’s political wisdom had again won the day for the Congress party and its partners. Once more fire crackers were exploding outside 10, Janpath and air reverberating with sounds of ‘Sonia Gandhi Zindabad’ on the day election results started coming in on June 16, 2009.
It was celebration time again.
The celebration of yet another fruit born by the tree of sacrifices planted by Sonia Gandhi.
