Sonia Gandhi and her message for us!

The attractions, the allurements and the charm of being prime minister and the wailing calls form two hundred Congress leaders inside the central hall of the parliament building could not convince Sonia to be the prime minister. As 'India Today' wrote: "What a story it has been, the story of Sonia so far. From day one of the battle for the 14th Lok Sabha, she has been the 'lady of revenge'. When she declined to be prime minister and refused to be the heroine of another dynastic coronation, Sonia had her revenge. She didn't want to gift the Sangh Parivar a permanent cause -- her national credentials." In 1996 VP Singh was the first choice after the fall of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 13-day government. He was elected the UDF leader and many Chief Ministers pleaded to him. But he vanished. Jyoti Basu agreed but his party regretted. But no renunciation or denial created so much impact as Sonia's.

By not becoming the prime minister, Sonia has created a precedence which may not be frequently repeated in world history. She has earned a permanent niche for herself in the exclusive club of statesmen. She had her reasons and this was not the first time she was refusing something alluring, attractive and prestigious. When Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on 21 May 1991 in Sriperumbudur in the Tamil Nadu state of India, the Congress was in dire necessity of having a party leader acceptable to all. The top leadership desperately tried to convince Sonia Gandhi to take over the reins. She had steadfastly refused and finally indicated her preference for PV Narashima Rao. Rao became the prime minister of India within weeks, and served a full tenure.

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The fact that Sonia Gandhi decide not to be the prime minister was known as early as May 1999. Fifteen months after she had become the president of the All India Congress (succeeding Sitaram Kesri), she was faced with a rebellion. The Congress Central Working Committee meeting scheduled for 15th May 1999 was expected to be a brief one, where minimum time was to have been spent to finalise the list of candidates for the up-coming Goa assembly polls. Not only Sonia Gandhi, but almost every member of the CWC other than the rebels, were taken by nearly total surprise and shock when PA Sangma, Sharad Pawar and Tariq Anwar raised the issue of Sonia's foreign birth and accused her of becoming a political liability for Congress. That very day Sonia Gandhi had decided to resign from the post of party president.

In her resignation letter dated 15th May 1999, she wrote "..........India is my motherland, dearer to me than my own life. I came into the service of Congress party, knowing that it is the only party capable of providing India with a stable, secular, progressive and independent government. That belief remains unshakeable. I came into the service of the party not for a position or power but because the party faced a challenge to its very existence and I could not stand idly by. I do not intend to do so now.........".

The fact that, she knew inside her own soul that she won't be the prime minister, did not deter her from preparing the party for victory and responsibility in the last six years. From the days of Jawaharlal Nehru, there was a tradition that the two top posts -- those of leader of the party and prime minister -- were clubbed together, making Nehru, Indira and Rajiv all-powerful. In 1994, during the days of Narashima Rao as prime minister, some stalwarts like Arjun Singh tried to bring in a change with a view to curtail the powers of Narashima Rao. They failed. Sonia silently sided with Narashima Rao. But this time in 2004, Sonia ensured two-fold amendment of the party constitution; firstly she should be able to retain the CPP leadership and secondly, the chairperson of Congress was authorised to nominate a leader to form the government. Although Sonia Gandhi became the president of the party in March 1998, it was in November 2000 only that she became the organisationally elected president of the party by defeating Jitendra Prasada, the only contestant. Having become the elected president she spared little pain, to educate herself in the nuances and intricacies of high profile politics.

Sonia tried to develop a corporate culture in managing the party and brought in accountability and personal discipline among the seniors of the party. Congress under Sonia had already achieved one historic 'first' by then, that is, to approve in their own party and then support an abortive bill in the parliament to reserve one-third of parliamentary and assembly seats for women. 10 June 2001 is important in the history of parliamentary politics in India; this day Congress under Sonia pledged to accept monetary donations only through cheques -- the first political party to do so in India. She ensured that party members also subscribe to the party fund regularly, to strengthen the party finance, instead of relying on donations only. Skeptics outnumbered optimists when Sonia pushed the internal reforms, but soon she was proved right. Priyanka was married to Ribert Vadra in February in 1997. Within months of the marriage, Sonia developed a great liking for her son-in-law, but she decisively maintained distance from his family. As the Congress president, she gave clear instructions to all Congress functionaries not to extend favours to the family and in January 2002 she did so publicly.

However the Vadra family failed to distance from meddling in political and economic favours only because of relationship. In January 2002, Ribert Vadra issued a public notice renouncing his connections with his parental family only to protect the integrity and transparency of the leader Sonia. All these were her efforts to prepare the party for holding office. Thus when the party was about to reap the fruits of the hard work and sacrifices, it is then that she declined to be the prime minister. Throughout the last 4 to 5 years mildly, but strongly throughout the election campaign for last 2 to 3 months, anti-Congress political parties harped on the foreigner issue regarding Sonia. They were dead against Sonia becoming the prime minister. The Indian constitution does not prohibit any naturalised citizen from becoming prime minister but BJP and its like minded parties would give no concession.

In May last when the election result started showing that Congress was most likely to form the government, then BJP and its like-minded parties threatened extreme agitation and obstructionist programme, only to preempt Sonia becoming the prime minister. Having failed through election-propaganda, BJP resorted to vengeance. While Sonia and the Congress campaigned during the election, the voters knew for sure who was Sonia Gandhi. Therefore while the Congress drew popular support, it was for Sonia as she were and Congress as she led. Therefore to oppose Sonia Gandhi in becoming prime minister meant opposing popular wish. BJP was exactly doing that. Sonia Gandhi had to make a choice. Should she honour the wishes of those who voted for her party or honour the wishes of those who did not vote in favour of her party. She decided to opt for the latter. She has not become prime minister, but she has ensured that Congress has a smooth run. She has not become prime minister, but she has probably laid the foundation for Rahul or Priyanka to be the prime minister in years to come.

The Indian Hindi cinema has a great following in Bangladesh, and impacts the young mind. The Hindi cinema often enact political dramas which are known for witty and critical representation of the realities. How about the real-life drama enacted by Sonia Gandhi impacting upon Bangladeshi society? Will the political leadership in Bangladesh have the courage, courtesy and concern to analytically study the rise of Sonia to greatness and her sacrifices? The Indian National Congress of 1991 faced very-near similarity with BNP of 1981 and Awami League of 1975. Under trying circumstances Sheikh Hasina became President of the Awami League in the early eighties, as did Khaleda Zia become Chairperson of BNP about the same time. Former President Ershad is leading the JP for last eighteen years. What are their programmes for promoting democracy within their parties? How much are they as individuals prepared to sacrifice for the party or the country? We do not want to pen down our preferences; Sonia has done it for us; we can only join Mohsin Siddique of Washington DC, USA (Daily Star 26 May 2004) in asking for little more of nobility and grace. In the context of Bangladeshi leadership, 'thank God Sonia is a lady!'

Major General Ibrahim is a former Director General of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies.