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'We will not allow her to resign'

Amberish K Diwanji in New Delhi

Sonia Gandhi's resignation as Congress president is turning into a major drama, though that is a word no Congress leader will ever use. On Tuesday, there was a spate of resignations with various Congress leaders, big and small, literally falling over each other offering to quit unless she withdrew her resignation.

Topping the charts are the chief ministers of three important states and a Union territory: Digvijay Singh of Madhya Pradesh, Ashok Gehlot of Rajasthan, Giridhar Gamang of Orissa and Sheila Dixit of Delhi.

Digvijay Singh took offence when asked whether the entire episode was turning farcical. "People from all over the country are pleading with Sonia Gandhi, they are coming down to Delhi to personally request her to withdraw her resignation letter, and Pradesh Congress Committees all across have pledged their support. How can you call this a drama?" he asked angrily, adding, "This is the genuine feeling of people from across the nation."

The four chief ministers jointly addressed the media though it was Digvijay who held forth. They stated that since it was due to her ability and charisma that the Congress managed to sweep the November election in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, they could not consider carrying on in her absence.

Yet, the foursome refused to actually consider the possibility of Sonia not revoking her decision and were supremely confident that sooner than later, she would withdraw her resignation. "There is no other way, we will not allow her to resign. She is our leader and has to stay back," declared Digvijay Singh. And that seemed to be the mood across the party, the question only being when rather than if.

Digvijay Singh pooh-poohed Sharad Pawar's statement that a person of foreign origin should not hold the country's top political posts. "How is it that she is good enough to lead the party, as stated by Pawar himself, but not to lead the nation?" he asked.

The Madhya Pradesh chief minister also denied any knowledge or link to the letter written by Pawar, Tariq Anwar and Purno Sangma, though it is believed that he was in touch with Pawar before the letter was sent. "I have been in touch with Pawar over party matters but I had no idea about this letter, which has only played into the hands of the other political parties," he said emphatically.

It is also learnt that Congress Working Committee members Jitendra Prasada and Mohsina Kidwai too have tendered their resignations on the same grounds. However, the resignation of these two has not yet been made public. It is also believed the entire CWC panel might offer to step down in a bid to get Sonia to reverse her decision.

In another development, a demand has been voiced to convene a meeting of the All India Congress Committee, the party's general body, to deliberate her resignation. There are indications that the party leadership is considering the request positively. But this will take at least a couple of weeks to fructify.

The expectation among Congress circles is that such an AICC meet will endorse Sonia's leadership and also her being suitable for the post of prime minister of the country. Support from various quarters would be just a formality given that those opposed to her are unlikely to attend.

By playing hard to get, Sonia is succeeding in consolidating her position within the party as the unchallenged leader. The other intention is clearly one of seeking to generate sympathy for Gandhi as the bahu (daughter-in-law) who gave up her maternal home to settle in India. The aim, said Congress sources, is not just to decimate the challenge by Pawar but also to ensure that the Congress's electoral opponents would hesitate to rake up the issue of her foreign origin.

Said a senior Congress leader, "Her resignation is a master-stroke because it immediately gives the impression that she really does not crave power but is there only to serve the party and country (as Sonia Gandhi's poignant resignation letter made amply clear)."

The Congress leader added that in India anyone who showed disdain for power was immensely popular, and her rating would surge. He also felt confident that by offering to quit, she would weaken the arguments of Pawar and the BJP against her origin. And though he was sure that she would eventually either withdraw her letter or work out a compromise, he was not sure when it would happen. A date being closely watched is May 21, the eighth death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi.

Posters of Sonia as the avatar of Indira Gandhi have sprung up outside the AICC headquarters in Delhi. Incidentally, 10 Janpath, her residence, and the Congress headquarters on 24, Akbar Road lie back to back, and visitors to her home go past the headquarters. Other posters speak of the martyrdom of Indira and Rajiv and the personal loss suffered by Sonia Gandhi in losing her husband.

Posters have also sprung up seeking the expulsion of Pawar, Sangma and Anwar.

Congress leaders are also busy bringing in supporters with powerful lungs, who have planted themselves outside the rear entrance to 10 Janpath, chanting pro-Sonia slogans. Some have gone on a hunger fast, though given the over 40 degree Celsius temperature, everyone was busy guzzling down water.

Explained a Youth Congress worker from Kerala, "Water is allowed during a hunger fast, only food is not allowed!" It is suspected that some of those on fast eat their meals too. Reason: they disappeared for a few hours in the midst of all the shouting and yelling.

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