CURRENT TOPICS: Unexpected but not inexplicable

Two developments in India last week have created a stir: - a) Against forecasts of a favourable landslide, BJP loses to Congress.- b) Victorious Sonia declines to become Prime Minister. The election result was the verdict of the people. The surprising decision, an individual's voice of conscience. Both unexpected but not inexplicable. Much has been made of the vagaries of vote in the domain of democracy. Let us now ponder on the unprecedented renunciation of power.
Once upon a time Prince Edward of England gave up the throne of United Kingdom for the love of a widow of foreign origin. Now an Indian widow of foreign origin gives up her right to rule the largest democracy in the world for the love of her adopted country (if her words are to be believed).
After winning the election fair and square as the leader of Congress, the largest single majority party, Sonia was automatically eligible to lay claim to form the government and head it as the Prime Minister. Documentary proof was available that several political parties joining the alliance had pledged support giving her 329 votes in a House of 542 - a comfortable majority to govern. She was the President of Congress leading it to victory, who endorsed her candidature for premiership. The other components of alliance also wanted her to head the government to be formed. Albeit for quite sometime in the past there is reluctance in many quarters in India (particularly those opposed to Congress) to accept Sonia Gandhi as a national leader, because she happens to be an Italian by birth and an Indian only through marriage to Rajiv many years back.
This has now been exploited to the hilt by the defeated BJP. Uncalled for aspersions are cast on the personality and background of Sonia which are in bad taste. They also refused to participate in ceremonies to be held in parliament to install her as Prime Minister - though Vajpayee, being a gentleman, did not approve and announced his participation. BJP prejudiced followers are circulating slogans like "Congress Ka Aik Hi Rasta - Bolo Italian Khao Pasta".
Sonia's decision not to accept premiership in my opinion is a wise one. Call it abdication, renouncement or a strategic withdrawal, it was a noble move. No politician shies away from power and, therefore, it is a sacrifice of great magnitude. According to Sonia, she took the decision in the interest of the unity of the country as dictated by her conscience. May be she thought that notwithstanding overwhelming support she enjoyed in the parliament, there would always be elements inside and outside the House who resented her, just because in the eyes and minds of many she was not a born Indian. She is proud of belonging to Nehru-Gandhi dynasty but the political assassinations of mother-in-law Indira and her husband Rajiv were too painful and tragic to forget. Her well-wishers thought that the killing by extremists of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira and Rajiv posed a danger for Sonia too.
She could face such a challenge as most politicians do these days but any such event would have spelled disaster for the prospects of peace and progress in the country.
Some intellectuals and cynics - who are least xenophobic - believe that Sonia has no qualification or experience to become a national political leader, leave aside holding the high office as the head of the government of India. Circumstances pushed her to prominence when her husband, a sitting Prime Minister, suddenly passed away and the Congress politicians persuaded her to become the party president to retain support of the dynasty worshipping voters. As a grieving widow at first she was reluctant but later she gave in perhaps thinking of the future of her children - Rahul and Priyanka. She had grace, poise and a good heart.
Gradually she grew in confidence and stature. Despite not being fluent in Hindi she managed to command respect of the masses devoted to the dynasty. Some ambitious and aspiring politicians broke away from Congress but she succeeded to hold the nucleus intact to be rewarded with a stunning victory in the 14th general election. There can be no greater example of a unique success story achieved with patience, sweat, toil and tears. And now she has topped it by refusing the highest office in the country to make room for Manmohan Singh a Sikh known for his ability and integrity.
It is debatable whether Manmohan Singh belonging to Sikh community, who form 2% of the population of India, would be a better politician. But he would be certainly a more competent administrator to run the government. He is essentially a bureaucrat with vast experience in the fields of economics and finance. He has an excellent record as Governor of Reserve Bank and Finance Minister in the last Congress government of the nineties. He has a difficult task ahead of him but working in tandem with Sonia, he is expected to pull the country through the transition from Hindutva to true secularism.