ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Congress roots for Sonia as PM

George Iype in New Delhi

As Sonia Gandhi wished delegates at the All-India Congress Committee session a Happy New Year, party leaders from across the country lined up before her with one wish: that she becomes India's prime minister in 1999.

While senior politicians expressed their wish publicly at the Talkatora Stadium, venue of Friday's AICC session, many others told Rediff On The NeT that if the Congress takes the plunge and forms the government next year, Sonia will be prime minister.

"1999 will be the year of change. India should not have the misfortune of being ruled by an ineffective coalition government headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the next century," said Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh.

"The Congress wants an effective change of power at the Centre. And we hope Soniaji will be the prime minister in 1999," Singh, hero of the party's victory in last month's assembly election in Madhya Pradesh, said.

Now that the Congress has been strengthened under Sonia's leadership, "there is no need for the party to enter into electoral alliances in the states," Singh argued. "The Congress is now capable forming a government at the Centre on its own."

Echoing Singh's views, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said: "The Congress is now running in a new direction because Soniaji has raised the voice of the dalits, minorities and weaker sections."

"Whenever there is an election there is a tendency among our party leaders to talk about tying up with this or that party because they have the votes of some communities. Let us stop talking in this fashion because Soniaji is there with us," he said.

"The time is not far when the Congress will come to power at the Centre. The Congress has only one leader -- Sonia -- who will be the prime minister," Gehlot predicted.

Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit, a close friend of Sonia's, agreed: "Congress workers from across the country are grateful to Sonia because to her goes the credit for rejuvenating and re-orienting the party from the grassroots. Naturally, I will give Sonia full marks to make her the next prime minister."

Senior Congress Working Committee members, who are helping Sonia shape the party's political strategy, feel there is unanimity among party workers that she is the only leader who can steer the party and govern the country.

"If it were not for Sonia, the Congress leadership would have already pulled down the BJP-led coalition and propped up another government. Sonia has made us wise," a CWC member admitted.

The member, who had been at the forefront of the 'oust Vajpayee campaign', now feels she has seized the benefit of the Congress victory in the state polls not to topple Vajpayee but to further strengthen the party.

Sonia, who has spent considerable time in the last two months talking to the Communists on the possibility of forming a Congress-led coalition with their support from outside, has apparently spurned the idea for the time being.

Her reasoning: such a coalition government will not last long. Sonia now feels it is best for the party to prepare itself for a mid-term poll, win enough seats and form a Congress government on its own at the Centre.

Knowing her mind well, politicians like Arjun Singh, Madhavrao Scindia, Pranab Mukherjee, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jitendra Prasada, Ahmed Patel and Sushilkumar Shinde, who had earlier pressed for a coalition with Left support, kept mum at the AICC session.

"The Congress has come to the conclusion that a coalition government will not be successful if is not cemented on firm foundations," Azad said. "We expect that alliance politics in the country is set for change, a change for permanent governments."

"Sonia is like Rajiv Gandhi who always despised the idea of forming shaky coalitions," said CWC member Rajesh Pilot. "If we can force a mid-term poll and win it, it is better to wait for a few months rather than create instability in the country."

Pilot believes there will not be any other prime ministerial contenders in the party if the Congress wins a majority at the next general election. "Soniaji is our parliamentary party leader. Therefore, she will be the only choice as prime minister," he said.

Party posts reserved for women, weaker sections

Tell us what you think of this report