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The Congress on Thursday announced that Ms Sonia Gandhi had become a primary
member of the party. Congress general secretary Oscar Fernandes and party
spokesman V.N. Gadgil told newspersons at the party headquarters here on Thursday
that Ms Gandhi had enrolled herself as a primary member of the party on March 21.
When asked why the announcement was being made so late, Mr Fernandes said it could
be done only after publication of the party membership rolls for the forthcoming
organisational elections scheduled to be finished by June 15.
Party president Sitaram Kesri's critics, however, saw in the delayed announcement,
a message to contenders for the post of party president such as A. R. Antulay,
that Mr Kesri enjoys Ms Gandhi's support. Some party functionaries also thought
It had to do something with the CBI's report in the Bofors case that is expected
to be presented to the government next week.
"She may be wanting to tell the government that if her slain husband Rajiv
Gandhi's name is dragged into the case, she will not take it lying down and will
launch a political battle," said an AICC office-bearer.
That Ms Gandhi is not going to contest the forthcoming party election is evident
from the fact that she has chosen to become only a primary member, and not an
active member who only can hold a party post or be elected on any of the party
committees.
As per the Congress constitution, one can become an active member only by
enrolling 25 primary members. The election commission has allowed the Congress to
go beyond the May 31 deadline set by it, and as per the revised poll schedule,
voting for the state as well as national party presidents will take place on June
9.
A large number of state and national level party functionaries have al-ready
welcomed Ms Gandhi's decision and believe that it will strengthen the party. A.K.
Antony was among the few partymen who called on her on Thursday night to welcome
her decision.
Close associates of Rajiv Gandhi believe that Ms Sonia Gandhi will eventually take
over leadership of the party. "By becoming a primary member, apparently she wants
to test the waters first, both Inside the party and outside. Depending on the
response, she will decide about coming Into active politics," said a senior party
functionary.
Mr Oscar Fernandes said, "Mrs Gandhi Is going to be a mass leader. What formal
role she decides to choose for herself is immaterial. It has been a cry from
party workers and countrymen at large that she should join the party to fill the
void created by, the assassination of Mr Rajiv Gandhi."
After Rajiv Gandhi's killing, Ms Gandhi had kept herself assiduously away from
politics, barring on two occasions when she made political statements from a
public platform.
The first occasion was Rajiv Gandhi's 50th birth anniversary when in August 1995
at Amethi she expressed her anguish over the sluggish progress in the Rajiv Gandhi
assassination case during Narasimha Rao's government. At Kanpur on April 24 this
year she said at a public function that she will help the Congress in Its fight
against divisive and communal forces.
Arjun Singh, who keeps in touch with Ms Gandhi, responded to her decision to
become a member of the Congress by saying that "it will immensely help galvanise
the party." When asked if Ms Gandhi will hold any post in the party, Mr Singh
said, "Small people like us go after posts."
Mr Kesri, who visited the party headquarters Immediately after the press
conference, said he had appealed to her to take over the reins of the party in
1991 after the assassination of Mr Rajiv Gandhi. He had also asked her recently to
become member of the party's highest policy making body-the working committee.
"But she has chosen to join millions of Congress workers at the lowest level."
Mr Kesri, however, avoided a direct answer when asked whether he will now offer
the party leadership to. Ms Gandhi or Invite her to be a working committee
member.
Asked whether he saw any role for her in the party leadership, Mr Kesri said it
was too early to say anything In the matter. She has not yet become an active
member of the party.
Mr Kesri said the party had been considerably weakened with the eclipse of the
Nehru-Gandhi family members from the leadership and Ms Gandhi's decision would
strengthen it.
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