Light, camera, Sonia

Congress president Sonia Gandhi said here today that coalitions politics 8216;8216;will not last forever8217;8217; and the Indian polity would 8216;8216;revert to the major political parties8217;8217;. After addressing the India Today conclave, the Congress chief was asked whether coalitions were the only way out in the present political situation. In reply, she said: 8216;8216;We are going through a phase of coalitions and it is likely to last sometime. I am not convinced that it will last forever.8217;8217; 8216;8216;It will take some time for the polity to revert to the major political parties,8217;8217; she added.

Asked to comment on the Government8217;s peace initiative with Pakistan, Sonia said, 8216;8216;Congress has always supported the initiative, even when the PM was reluctant to restart the dialogue. We are happy he has finally listened to us8230;If Congress comes to power, this peace initiative will be carried forward.8217;8217;

To another question on what would be the three decisions she would take if she becomes the PM, she said: 8216;8216;If Congress comes to power, we will enforce the rule of law against those who disturb social harmony, increase investment in agriculture and promote the growth of productive jobs8217;8217;. She added the details of the schemes would be included in the party manifesto.

Referring to the Congress8217; plank of the battle of ideologies, she said there was a 8216;8216;clash of competing visions8217;8217; and asked: 8216;8216;Will it be a nationalism that is aggressive or will it be a nationalism that is accomodative?8217;8217; 8216;8216;Individuals may put on a veneer of moderation and give us a feeling the clash is exaggerated. But ultimately ideologies and institutions behind individuals are what matter more.8217;8217;