Sonia Gandhi Recalls 2004 Prime Minister Decision in Memoir
· India · Indian Express, Times of India
Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi reveals in an excerpt from her upcoming memoir 'Belonging', published by HarperCollins India, that she initially rejected the idea of becoming prime minister outright. Writing from New Delhi, Gandhi describes how months before the 2004 election, she discussed the possibility with her children Rahul and Priyanka, who strongly opposed the role due to the trauma of family assassinations and personal security risks. While one part of her mind weighed political duty following the United Progressive Alliance's victory in May 2004, her children's relief reinforced her decision to step back. Throughout the campaign, she maintained a noncommittal public stance to keep the party united against political opponents without sparking leadership struggles.
Why it matters
The memoir offers an insider account of one of the most consequential political decisions in modern Indian history, shaping the leadership of the Congress party and the UPA government.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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