NEW DELHI: The resignation of P.V. Narasimha Rao from the Congress presidency and his imminent exit as the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party has, not surprisingly, catapulted Sonia Gandhi to the center stage of Congress politics. Sonia has been very active in the days leading up to Rao’s resignation. She had given an indication to party leaders, who met her over the last fortnight that they ought to ensure Rao’s ouster. Among her visitors were CWC members K. Karunakaran, A.K. Antony, Rajesh Pilot, Vijay Bhaskar Reddy, Balram Jakhar, Ahmed Patel, Meira Kumar, Omem Deori, Ghulam Nabi Azad and, of course, Sitaram Kesri. The new party president is believed to have assured her of his loyalty. Pranab Mukherji too has met her. Significantly, Sharad Pawar has not met Sonia for over two months now. Congressmen are now desperately looking for ways out of the mess they find themselves in and are turning to Sonia. Worried that the scam juggernaut will not necessarily stop with Rao, party MPs are now even talking about ‘reviewing” the Congress’s support to the UF Government. Many see the ongoing onslaught against Congress leaders as a conspiracy to damage the party. Sonia is reportedly is favor of reunification in order to increase the party’s clout. Kesri might have wanted the return of the TMC but not necessarily of the Tewari Congress, The return of heavyweights like Arjun Singh and Narayan Dutt Tewari could spell trouble for him. But Kesri will not be able to hold out if there is pressure from 10, Janpath for the return of all the prodigal sons who left the party after 1991.

Sonia would also like to ensure that the CPP leader is someone of her choice, if and when Narasimha Rao steps down. Sharad Pawar has been positioning himself to step into Rao’s shoes. But Sonia is apparently not for Pawar, whom she does not trust, Pawar of course will not give up easily. He has a very good equation with Kesri and had backed his candidature from the very beginning. It is unclear who will be Sonia’s choice as CPP leader. Since Kesri is from the North there will be the compulsion of opting for somebody form the South.

As of now Sonia has to worry about the Bofors papers. The Swiss courts have already given their go ahead for their transfer to the Indian Government. The indictment of Quattrochi is bound to damage Sonia’s position. For that she has to increase her say in the Congress on whose support the Deve Gowda ministry depends. It is not for nothing that Deve Gowda called on Gandhi soon after he took over, that he did not include Maneka Gandhi in his Cabinet; and it is also not without significance that Rajiy Gandhi’s name does not figure in the St. Kitts’ charge sheet.

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 2, 1996