In her new memoir, the Congress leader details the internal conflict and pressure she faced before nominating Manmohan Singh.
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has shared the reasons behind her decision to turn down the prime minister post after the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. According to reports from The Times of India and Deccan Chronicle, Gandhi detailed these events in her new memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, which was released in bookstores on Tuesday.
The memoir describes how Gandhi initially resisted the role, but briefly appeared to agree after alliance leaders urged her to accept the position during a meeting at her 10, Janpath residence. She recalled feeling overwhelmed by their insistence, leading her to say, "Theek hai" (All right).
Gandhi noted that her children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were opposed to her taking the office due to concerns over security risks. After reflecting on her responsibilities and personal history, she decided to stick to her original stance. She told her son, Rahul, that she had made up her mind, and he supported her decision.
The leader then proposed Dr Manmohan Singh to lead the government. She described Singh as a person of high integrity with a profound grasp of governance. She also noted that his appointment would provide economic reassurance, particularly as the government would be supported by Communist parties.
The memoir, published by Harper Collins India, also covers Gandhi's life from her childhood in Italy to the assassinations of her husband, Rajiv Gandhi, and mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi.
