After an overwhelmed Congress party, still dazed by their midsummer night dream come true, elected her their parliamentary leader this morning, an emotional Sonia Gandhi rose to the occasion to warn partymen “not to revel in victory” but to treat the mandate as “an awesome opportunity to effect changes that may better the lives of our brothers and sisters all over India.” Given the average Congressman’s tendency to be arrogant with power, she also said, ‘‘We stand here as elected members of this august House as per the will of the people of our great nation. Let us never forget that it is to them we owe our positions. Let us each acknowledge the people of India have chosen us to represent their aspirations, not our own.’’ Buoyed by letters of support from pre-poll allies and the total backing of the Left to her claim to be PM, the newly elected CPP leader indicated that she too would follow the coalition dharma as her predecessor in office did. She told her elected MPs, ‘‘Even as we provide the pivot for the coalition, it will be our earnest endeavour to respect and work closely with our allies and partners.’’ Without naming the BJP-led NDA, she also made it clear the Congress-led coalition would be far more ideologically cohesive for a number of reasons. She said, ‘‘The commitment to provide a strong and stable government dedicated to promoting social harmony and peace unites all of us in the coalition. ‘‘The commitment to provide a firm resolute government devoted to the welfare of the kisans and khet mazdoors, of youth and women, of weaker sections of society unites us all in the coalition. ‘‘The commitment to provide a purposeful, effective government focussed on accelerating employment, growth, and investment unites all of us in the coalition.’’ Calling upon partymen not to be complacent at the start of a long and difficult journey, she said the party organisation must be infused with new energy— “There is now a momentum generated by our revival, let us not squander it. We must utilise it as a catalyst for change and progress within our organisation.’’ Her nuanced speech, shorn of too much jargon or rhetoric, was aimed at warning partymen that the Congress may have returned to power but Congressmen should not think the old days had returned. Although she started out her speech paying homage to Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, none of her three “greatest teachers” had to run a coalition government nor face an embittered opposition who had questioned their patriotism and origins. Clearly moved by the people’s rejection of the “foreign origin” issue, Sonia said they had asserted “the soul of our nation is inclusive, secular and united.” They had decisively rejected the ideology of the RSS, the destructive policies of the BJP-led government, and “the politics of personal attacks and negative campaigns,” she said. After the speech, there was much jubilation as the new MPs—including a wheelchair-bound Ajit Jogi—greeted one another with flowers and laughter. A beaming Rahul Gandhi also milled around Central Hall, entering for the first time the historic hall where his great grandfather had made his famous freedom-at-midnight speech. That was a long time ago, but India’s tryst with destiny as well as dynasty continues.
