In a pivotal moment following the 2004 general election, Sonia Gandhi, then leader of the Congress party, initially agreed to assume the role of Prime Minister. This decision, however, was dramatically reversed overnight after a crucial intervention from her son, Rahul Gandhi, as revealed in her memoir.
Pressure to Accept the Top Post
Months before the election, Sonia Gandhi had discussed the possibility of becoming prime minister with her children, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. Both had expressed strong reservations, citing the tragic assassinations of their grandmother, Indira Gandhi, and father, Rajiv Gandhi, as reasons to avoid such a high-stakes position. At that time, Sonia herself had firmly stated, "Absolutely not!" to the idea.
However, after the Congress-led alliance secured a surprise victory in 2004, pressure mounted from alliance leaders. They converged at her residence, insisting she accept the prime ministerial nomination. Despite her initial reluctance, and facing intense persuasion, Sonia eventually conceded, uttering, "Theek hai" (All right).
Rahul Gandhi's Pivotal Question
Priyanka Gandhi, observing the scene from outside, quickly informed her brother, Rahul, that their mother had given in to the pressure. Rahul immediately confronted Sonia, asking if she had indeed agreed. When she explained she had been pressured, and reiterated her personal disinclination for the role, Rahul's response was sharp and direct: "Pressurised? You are being pressurised? What about us?"
This pointed question prompted Sonia Gandhi to spend the entire night in deep contemplation. She grappled with the implications of her decision, particularly concerns that her foreign origin could become a significant political vulnerability, potentially "wounding" the country she loved.
A Change of Heart and Manmohan Singh's Nomination
By the next morning, Sonia Gandhi had made her final decision. She informed Rahul that she would adhere to her original stance of declining the prime ministership. Rahul, embracing her, affirmed her choice, saying, "It's the right decision."
Despite continued pressure from Congress MPs to reconsider, Sonia Gandhi stood firm. At the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting, she humbly declined the post, stating that an inner voice guided her decision. She then nominated Dr. Manmohan Singh to lead the Congress Parliamentary Party, paving the way for him to become India's next Prime Minister.
"How could I agree to holding the office of prime minister knowing it could wound my country, the country that I loved? No, never!" Sonia Gandhi wrote in her memoir.
Looking back at the tumultuous period, Sonia Gandhi reflected on the immense relief she felt once the "ordeal" was finally over, marking a significant turning point in modern Indian political history.