Even if Sonia wants to distance herself from the Congress, the party seems to be very keen that she is involved in its functioning. All those meeting her have been going over the same ground again and again: Sonia should continue to keep the party united; she alone can save the Congress and that she should take over the reins from Sitaram Kesri.
Such sentiments have been voiced before. But now, since she has plunged into active politics after choosing to stay out of it for over six years, Congressmen loyal to Sonia hope that if they can keep up the pressure, they could make her participate in the running of the party. This would give them better leverage over rivals in the party.
That the Congress, or at least her loyalists, want Sonia's presence at the AICC headquarters at 24, Akbar Road is reflected in the fact that though she has no official post in the organisation, the CWC passed a resolution that she should decide on who should be the next Congress Parliamentary Party leader. This is unthinkable in any party—such decisions would never be left to a mere primary member of a party.
But Sonia seems to enjoy a unique status in the Congress because she belongs to the Nehru-Gandhi family. This makes her a committed party worker, they claim. And to drive home this point, they pipe up that Sonia and her family campaigned with more vigour than many of those who sat at the AICC headquarters and dictated the policies of the party. Points out an MP from Kerala: "It is high time that some of our people retire. What we need is someone like Sonia who can keep the party united and the workers enthused. The party has virtually come alive after she began campaigning. We would all like her to continue to play an active role in the Congress."
With speculation rife in Congress circles that Sonia may accept the presidentship of the party later this year, the buzzword at the AICC headquarters is that to succeed in the Congress, Sonia's approval is a must. So it was not surprising that even before the first CWC meeting after the elections senior leaders made it a point to make a beeline for 10, Janpath. The visitors included Sharad Pawar, fresh from his victory in Maharashtra. According to his supporters, he had a cordial meeting with Sonia who appreciated the alliance he had struck which helped the Congress sweep the elections in Maharashtra.
The Pawar camp took no time in letting it be known that its leader had the support of 10, Janpath. Pawar was tipped by many in the Congress as a likely candidate for prime ministership should the Congress be in a position to form a government. And in the Congress any sign of approval from Sonia is seen as a positive signal. On the same count, it is difficult to get any leader to speak ill of Sonia. The last one to speak out, B.P. Maurya, is now with the BJP.
But what has been Sonia's reaction to partymen rushing to seek her advice? According to Congress sources, she meets them but has not given them any specific advice on such key questions as to whether they should stake claim to form a government. Her counsel was that the CWC should form its own conclusions although she felt that the party should exercise caution before taking any decision.
This seems to be the line adopted by the Congress last week. Sonia, as many party-men will tell you, is the de facto Congress president. In the recently concluded elections, Sonia decided who should be given tickets; she also led the Congress campaign. So Congressmen wonder why Rajiv's widow does not take over the party. There is a twist to the tale. For, if the party needs Sonia, she needs the party as well—because once the BJP forms the government it may launch investigations against her on various counts. It would always help to have the support of a 113-year-old party.
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