-Mohammaed Khaleequr Rahman
Sonia Gandhi’s political odyssey is one that has changed the Indian political landscape for the better. It has been over two decades since she assumed the seat of President of Indian National Congress, and even though her power has constantly and enormously changed, it is still undebatable. Her introduction to politics was under duress and fairly late, even more so because she was pushed into the position of power after her spouse Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime minister of India was assassinated. While regarded as an ‘outsider’, she was able to consolidate a broken Congress Party. Leadership for her did not mean an orator with fiery speeches or someone with a larger than life character, but rather a quiet resolve which commands respect and controversy in equal measure. It is during her leadership that Congress redefines its position, at least the time when UPA came into power for the first time in 2004, which reinvents the concept of coalition politics in India. Sonia Gandhi’s leadership of governance, during the period of UPA therefore, was rather distinctive. Within a single timeframe, she managed to be the central character in various alliances of contributing political parties of opposing ideologies that had such a broad range of opportunities that it was unlikely to collapse. Her decision to appoint Dr. Manmohan Singh to the office of the prime minister was a very rational decision. It can be said that she was the backroom strategist rather than the one with the executive power and in turn established a new leadership model for the policymaking process.
This strategy was the first of its kind and signalled a departure from the politically active participation of the Nehru-Gandhi family. It was also a politically wise strategy because it allowed the Congress party to avoid criticism of dynastic politics while still having the Gandhi family behind the symbolic image. The UPA government implemented revolutionary policies such as the Right to Information Act, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, and the Right to Education Act during this period, which matched Sonia’s objective on inclusive development.
The year 2014 was a watershed for her after the Congress party lost power. In turn, she stepped back from the public eye, but her power did not wane. Instead of leaving her party behind in dark times Sonia stayed, and supported the Congress through one of its most chaotic moments in history. She facilitated leadership succession with Rahul Gandhi, who despite the transitions struggled with the complexities of breathing life into a Congress party that was under threat from the BJP wave. Sonia’s relations with her son Rahul, regarding the political aspect, have been intricate and dynamic in nature. She stepped aside and allowed Rahul to take charge however she picked up the control of the party in 2019 showcasing how much she was devoted to the consensus of the Congress. The Singh reign made Sonia look like a pragmatic individual and the congress as a party relied on her as the glue that joined them all together. The congress did try and regroup under her directions, but the task at hand of tackling the BJP’s growth was proving to be a difficult hunt. Sonia’s views have mostly been around how other leaders should work within the parties with their ideologies but in the end be representatives of the congress party. Sonia has managed fairly well to maintain the coffers of the Congress party remains a major opposition party.
Over the last few years, Sonia Gandhi’s age relates health issues, has not however kept her from being active. Subtle but constant both are the hallmarks of the Gandhi family which has become the ethos of the Congress. In some instances she has shown more of her symbolic self than active, which has in some instances made the Congress Party remain relevant in the country’s politics. There are people who have witnessed the fact that Sonia Gandhi is very much there but she remains calm, in control and maintained strategic direction, enabling Congress’ senior leaders to find their own oars under the Sonia’s guidance.
Sonia Gandhi’s impact on Indian politics goes beyond the Congress. Her advocacy of secularism and pluralism has been an antidote to the dominant political narrative. While the surging wave of nationalism insists that strength lies in heterogeneity, she continues to claim that India's strength lies in its diversity-a plank thathas appealed to certain sections of the electorate. Although she is seldom appearing in the public forum giving speeches, there are palpable ideological declarations; concerns about communal harmony and social justice remain central to a politics that defines her own. Sonia Gandhi stands out as an anchor for the Congress in a fast-changing political landscape. She embodies, in her legacy, neither traditional political power but strength and adaptability today. Sonia is not very present on the front lines these days, but her impact is deeply etched into the identity of the Congress-the continuity amidst change. Such change from being reluctant to lead to being that steadying force represents such adaptability that has given her staying power despite the moving political waters. As Congress struggles with finding its future identity, it is likely to be led by Sonia's vision for the party to play within the Indian democracy-ensuring her impact for years after she stops to be a practicing politician in the current sense.
(Writer is Karyakrata of Indian National Congress, Hyderabad)
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