They say that at 74 you should do what you always wanted to do but couldn’t. Sonia Gandhi, 74, might be happier if she were away from the heat and dust of Delhi politics. Not only because the heat and dust affect her asthma, but because she has begun to feel fatigue and the death of Ahmed Patel has left her more alone amid the fierce internal dispute in Congress. Sonia Gandhi was in Goa when her “irreplaceable comrade”, as she called Patel, died. Sources say she was devastated and that has added to her desire to retire soon. A reluctant net, there are few to whom it would open. Ahmed Patel was an exception.
Many years ago, in an interview with News18, Priyanka Vadra had said that her mother wanted to retire and settle in Himachal Pradesh to dedicate herself to gardening. That desire of Sonia Gandhi had to be stopped when Rahul Gandhi, in the wake of the defeat of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, resigned as party head and her mother was forced to assume the interim presidency, for the second time.
In 1998, when Congress seemed to be falling apart, some senior party leaders cajoled Sonia Gandhi into ending her vanvas and join active politics. She agreed to become president of the party, which ultimately made her the longest-serving. Her entry into politics caused a crowd to invade her. But the crowd added to his loneliness.
Those who know her know her as someone who loves to be alone, at most surrounded by very close family and friends. When Sonia came to India to marry Rajiv Gandhi, she joined a high profile family where her mother-in-law was the prime minister of the world’s largest democracy. Rajiv traveled and flew as a pilot and Sonia submerged her loneliness in household chores. But there she also began her political education, as she closely observed how Indira Gandhi handled dissent and, at times, was ruthless towards her opponents. Life became hectic once Rajiv Gandhi became prime minister and, against his wishes and nature, he had to socialize. But the discomfort manifested itself. For example, when Rajiv was fighting from Amethi, there were images of Sonia standing far behind and alone and having to be pushed by her husband to come to vote. He did so with a feeling of unease. As the wife of a candidate, Sonia Gandhi had to campaign for Rajiv, but it was clearly an uncomfortable moment for her.
One would have thought that by joining active politics, Sonia Gandhi would be happy with the crowd around her, especially when she emerged as one of the most powerful women in the world. But he had few friends, selected advisers. Although she was forced to interact with her fellow party members, she maintained her inaccessibility. Many see this as a facade of their loneliness. By being with Indira, Sonia had learned that not all those who praised her as a net they were legit. Sonia was surrounded by fans of the party, but she kept her ears and eyes open to the fact that many made fun of her behind her back.
Like a foreigner who had to fight the crafty net at the party, Sonia Gandhi was alone. The fact that her children were small, she had few genuine friends, mostly who weren’t in politics, only added to this. By sonia kawach, or his guard, was to stay away and seek private moments.
It was with a sense of relief that Sonia Gandhi finally saw Rahul’s entry into active politics. First as a deputy for Amethi and then to slowly rise to become president of her party. It was an emotional moment when Rahul Gandhi kissed his mother on the forehead while taking over the party at a function at the Congress headquarters. Sources say that Sonia Gandhi was jubilant and very relaxed that day. He headed on vacation to Goa and photos of his bike with a glow on his face with some locals underscored his happiness and relief.
An anecdote reveals how Sonia found pleasure in small things far from politics. After an important meeting of Congress when all the leaders had left, a net I had to go back to the room. He was surprised to see Sonia lift the coffee cups and also clean the table. Sonia looked embarrassed but she also seemed “childish and happy”. “We soon realized that it was these private moments that made her strong and happy,” revealed the leader.
Sonia Gandhi was aware that she was constantly under scrutiny. His defeats would be seen as his inability to deliver. She was no match for the cunning of, say, a Sharad Pawar or Mulayam Singh Yadav. And although the merit of the victory of the UPA is for these unconditional, it was Sonia who was determined to prove once and for all that she could fulfill what she won the day. Coming out of her cocoon, Sonia Gandhi decided to fight back. But those who know her say that she would still feel the loneliness of a net that he has had to sacrifice two members of his family for a political assassination. This was a fear that stayed with her for her children and they also cared for her.
Today, since she decided not to celebrate her birthday, perhaps Sonia is a little less alone. You know that your retirement is finally not too far away. More importantly, both Rahul and Priyanka have decided to take the reins. This retreat from loneliness comes at a time, curiously, when his party needs his cunning even more as Congress moves from one electoral defeat to another. But Sonia has made it clear to her close family that she wants to stop tending her party and go back to real gardening.
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