THE SONIA FACTOR

Sonia Gandhi has always been a mystery and somewhat of an oddity in Indian politics.
Until her husband died, she was just an Italian-born housewife who had a well-known loathing for Indian politics and politicians. She was thrust into the Congress presidency after Sitaram Kesri retired in 1998. Her first steps in politics were unsure. Uncomfortable speaking in public, she marked her first major moment in national politics-staking her party’s claim to form the government in 1999-with a blunder and the immortal words, “We have 272 and we hope to get more.”

But today, it seems Sonia walks on firmer ground and is a more self-assured political personality. There has been a perceptible change in her demeanor and in the way she is regarded by her party men. When she took over the Congress, her party was ruling in only three states. Today, it is a cohesive force controlling Central government and 10+ state governments. She is the supreme leader of the Congress and no one dare contradict her.

This is in total contrast to the ruling BJP which seems in disarray.

Sonia’s emerging confidence has an uncanny parallel with her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi-she too was expected to be a goongi gudiya (dumb doll).