Return Of The Dynasty

THE news came as a shock to Congress president Sitaram Kesri. On May 7, Choudhary Prem Singh, Delhi party chief, informed him that 'Madam' had enrolled as a member of the Congress. True, the development had to be welcomed, but what hurt Kesri was the secrecy: Sonia Gandhi had filled up the form for primary membership more than a month-and-a-half ago, March 21 to be precise. Singh told the veteran leader that he had kept quiet about it because Sonia had told him specifically not to publicise the matter.

Kesri's hurt was understandable. Hadn't he taken the lead in getting the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to adopt a unanimous resolution a day after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination six years ago asking Sonia to take over as Congress president? Hadn't he time and again entreated her to play a more active role? Why should he have been kept in the dark about such a development?

Once he was in the know, he instructed party spokesperson V.N. Gadgil to announce it to the world. But the low-key revelation through a routine briefing at the 24, Akbar Road Congress headquarters on May 8 was in sharp contrast to the surge of joy among the rank and file of the demoralised party, dunked out of power just a year ago. Kesri's detractors in the party and Sonia loyalists like S.S. Ahluwalia did not fail to notice the rather lukewarm manner in which this momentous occasion had been handled. The contrast in relation to the high-profile announcements of the return of Madhavrao Scindia to the fold and Manmohan Singh's induction in the CWC was stark.

On record, however, Kesri had welcomed Sonia's formal entry into politics. Gadgil was at his effusive best, saying that Sonia's "joining the party will rejuvenate and electrify the organisation". Within 24 hours of the announcement, Rajiv Gandhi's widow had come to symbolise the 'future' of a decrepit party. From Jagannath Mishra to K. Karunakaran, everyone welcomed her entry. And expectedly, Congress leaders made a beeline for 10, Janpath. Everyone who called on Sonia repeated the same mantra—she alone can save the Congress and hence she must take over the reins of the party from Kesri.

The groundswell of goodwill has been encouraging. The average party worker and middle-rung leaders foresee a rejuvenation of the party under Sonia. Congressmen from the south, who have felt marginalised in the party setup, have asked her to contest elections from any constituency of her choice. Satish Sharma, who represents Amethi, has told her that he is only there at her "will" and that he would not hesitate to vacate the constituency for a member of the Gandhi family. The enthusiasm of some leaders verged on the sycophancy Congressmen have not hesitated in displaying towards the Nehru-Gandhi family. Observed former union minister Giridhar Gomango: "She is the power station. The Congress president is a bulb which lights up because of her."

But not everyone in the Congress is as ebullient, though. The vacuum in the Congress after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination and after Rao's ouster from party presidentship led many senior leaders to nurture ambitions of holding the top post. Sonia's entry has dampened their plans. Sharad Pawar, who has long considered himself to be the prime minister-in-waiting, is not too happy. And the Rao camp is not at all pleased with the turn of events. A Rao loyalist pointed out that "he (Rao) freed the party from dynastic rule. Times have changed and many leaders are not willing to go back. If Sonia becomes Congress president, they will not be able to rise for decades. The move will be opposed and some people may even force a split."

According to Sonia loyalists, she decided to take the plunge after pressure from partymen who pointed out that Kesri was leading a divided house. Factionalism was rampant with Pawar and Narasimha Rao heading two camps. Kesri himself was trying to build a coterie. Delegations which called on Sonia gave her the impression that the average Congressman was a really confused man.

A senior leader says Kesri has lost his grip over the party. With organisational elections coming up next month, he feels Kesri would like Sonia on his side. But what if she decides to contest? Oscar Fernandes is aghast: "Does she need to contest? It is entirely up to her, whatever she wants to be." Is Sonia familiar with the party constitution? "Read it? They (her family) wrote it."

Did disgruntled party leaders alone influence Sonia's decision? One theory doing the rounds, and which finds favour with 10, Janpath detractors, is that the likely interrogation of Sonia and Ottavio Quattrocchi in the Bofors case could well explain her timing. With organisational support, Rajiv's widow could be on a safer wicket should investigations be initiated against her. The Sonia camp, however, points out that the nailing of Quattrocchi will not implicate her in any way. Can the family be held responsible because a friend is involved in a crime, they ask.

So, what are Sonia's plans? 10, Janpath sources say that a pro-gramme is being chalked out. With the encouraging turnout at the recent mushaira organised in Kanpur by Mani Shankar Aiyar, public functions are on the cards. Only after she proves that party workers are on her side can she hope to take over the reins of the party. The plan, obviously, is to build the right momentum, which will make it impossible for any leader to oppose her bid for power.

To a certain extent, pressure is already building up. With organisational elections around the corner, Sonia has emerged as one of the potential contenders for the top post. More so because senior leaders like A.R. Antulay and Karunakaran have made their displeasure of Kesri clear. But whether Sonia would go so far as to topple Kesri remains to be seen. Her immediate role, according to Congress Parliamentary Party secretary Prithviraj Chauhan, is to help revive the party: "What the party expects of her at the moment is a symbolic role, to enthuse the workers and campaign for the party. She will be a rallying point." Sonia herself chooses to maintain an enigmatic silence. But leaders who have called on her in the last few days say she is shedding her inscrutable ways, taking an interest in party affairs like never before. Given her stature with the Congress rank and file—almost solely because of her association with the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty—Sonia cannot possibly remain a mere primary member. She is bound to climb up the hierarchy. And swiftly at that.