(On the 74th birthday of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, The Quint Originally published on 9 December 2017, is repeating this article from its archives)
video editor: Mohammad Ibrahim
video maker: Anubhav mishra
All this began at the Versity Cafe in Cambridge, Britain, when Sonia Meno met Rajiv Gandhi, a young engineering student at the university. This was love at first sight for the couple.
“As we got our eyes for the first time, I could feel my heart faster. As far as I was concerned, it was love at first sight.”
Sonia Gandhi, in her book Rajeev
It was a long journey from Louisiana to Safdurjung Road (Indira Gandhi’s residence). A nervous Sonia met Rajiv’s mother, Indira, who immediately kept her future daughter -in -law comfortably.
“He told me,” Don’t be afraid. I was also young and in love, and I understand you. “
Sonia Gandhi, in an interview Rajdeep sardesai
It was not easy to swap pasta for arhar dal
Soon, Sonia came to Indira’s house as her Daughter in lawAwaiting a huge change in food, lifestyle and culture. However, Indira was talented as Prime Minister Indira Mother in law,
“She was a very intelligent woman and she allowed me to have a place and time to get used to new ways … new food, new way of dressing.”
Sonia Gandhi, in an interview Rajdeep sardesai
Sonia and Rajiv initially stayed away from politics. While Sanjay Gandhi was actively involved in politics, Sonia and Rajiv were busy leading the life of a normal couple with their children – Rahul and Priyanka. Sanjay died in a plane crash in 1980.
Indira wanted Rajiv to be her political successor. But Sonia will have none of it.
“Yes, I was completely, completely against it.”
Sonia Gandhi, in an interview Rajdeep sardesai
Despite Sonia’s hesitation, Rajiv decided to join politics. Meanwhile, Sonia stayed at home, raising the next generation of politicians.
Indira Gandhi’s loss
Sonia was close to Indira when she was murdered. Her mother -in -law’s death also meant that she would lose her privacy, as Rajiv was sworn in as the next Prime Minister of India.
Sonia played the role of the Prime Minister’s wife. In her crisp -looked sarees, she was seen as a brand ambassador of Indian culture. However, she stayed away from public life.
Rajiv Gandhi killed
In 1991, Sonia’s worst fear came true. Rajiv was killed.
Sonia lost her husband and mother -in -law in politics. As she was sitting next to her husband’s body, a leader for Naga Congress requested him to accept the leadership of the Congress party.
Sonia reprimanded him.
However, six years later, Sonia gave the demands and joined the Indian National Congress in 1997.
The year 1996 was a disaster for the Indian National Congress. Sonia campaigned for the Congress in the 1998 elections. He gave emotionally charged speeches in Hindi with a foreign pronunciation. This immediately made him the crowd favorite. Her gestures, body language and crisp cotton sarees reminded everyone of Indira Gandhi.
Despite its campaign, the Congress lost the 1998 general elections. But no one blamed Sonia for harm. Instead, the then Congress President, Sitaram Kesari was made a man falling. He was removed from the party and Sonia was elected party president.
Soon after Sonia handled the leadership, the Congress saw a major victory in the assembly elections in Rajasthan, New Delhi and Madhya Pradesh (including Chhattisgarh back). But everything was not well within the party’s rank.
Senior Congress leaders like Pa Sangma and Sharad Pawar left the party. Unaffected by these failures, Sonia looked at the south for a new colleague – none other than Subramanian Swamy! He played an intermediary between Sonia and J Jayalalithaa, and he used to join hands to avoid Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s coalition government.
Although Vajpayee was able to return to power in 1999, Sonia proved her subtlety as an experienced politician.
Sonia was elected as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha in 1999. He formed a main team which included India’s future President, Pranab Mukherjee, Arjun Singh, AK Antony and Digvijay Singh. He also suggested his political advisor, Ahmed Patel.
In 2004, Sonia ran his head against the BJP -led NDA government and won. Congress and their colleagues, UPA, managed 218 seats. But he kept it only at the center of another political storm. A question that was raised not only among his political rivals but also within his own party.
Should an Italian birth citizen be the Prime Minister of India?
No PM but a politician equal excellence
In a decision that surprised everyone, Sonia chose to reject the post of Prime Minister. Instead, he nominated former Finance Minister Manmohan Singh for the same.
I was always certain that if I find myself in a situation that I am today, I will follow my inner voice. Today, that voice tells me, I politely reject the post.
Sonia Gandhi
Some of his supporters called it a sacrifice, the other a political masterstroke. But political pundits agreed that even though she was not the Prime Minister, she was the most influential person in the country.
Lotus Blooms, Congress follows opposition religion
From 2004 to 2014, UPA ruled for a decade. But in 2014, a string of allegations of corruption in collaboration with the BJP in collaboration with opposing-disinterest and ‘Modi wave’ provoked the 2014 general elections. The Congress was reduced to only 44 seats.
But Sonia followed the opposition religion. From farm loan waiver to dimionation to Goods and Services Tax (GST), it has been at the forefront of protests against the Modi government.
In her 19 -year -long political career, Sonia has become one of India’s most important political leaders. Now, his legacy is given to his son, Rahul, who is likely to become the next Congress president.
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