For Sonia Gandhi, becoming Prime Minister of India was never just about accepting the country’s top political position. It also meant dealing with the painful memories of losing her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, and her husband, Rajiv Gandhi, both of whom were assassinated. And when the opportunity finally came in 2004, her decision was not just about politics. It was also about her family, her fears and what she believed was right for the country.
In her book, Belonging: A Journey of Love, Sonia Gandhi has shared details of what happened behind the scenes before she decided against becoming Prime Minister. Her account reveals that her children, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, were strongly against the idea long before the election results were announced.
The discussion about the Prime Minister’s post had already taken place within the Gandhi family months before the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.
According to Sonia, both Rahul and Priyanka had made their position very clear. When they asked their mother whether she would accept the Prime Minister’s post if the Congress won the election, her answer was a firm no.
For Rahul and Priyanka, this was not simply a political decision. Having already experienced the assassination of their grandmother Indira Gandhi and their father Rajiv Gandhi, they were deeply worried about their mother’s safety.
The Prime Minister’s position was closely connected to the painful experiences their family had already gone through. Neither of them wanted their mother to face a similar risk.
Sonia, meanwhile, chose not to discuss the issue publicly during the election campaign. She wanted to avoid any confusion over the party’s leadership and ensure that the Congress remained united.
But things took a different turn once the election results came in.
After the election results, Sonia Gandhi found herself at the centre of a major political moment. Congress and its allies wanted her to lead the government, and several alliance leaders visited her residence to discuss the formation of the new government.
The meeting took place in the conference room associated with Rajiv Gandhi. What followed, as Sonia recalls in her book, was an intense discussion that went on for hours.
The leaders were determined to make her accept the Prime Minister’s position. According to her account, they surrounded her physically and made it clear that they were not ready to accept a refusal.
The pressure became so intense that Sonia, feeling nervous and overwhelmed, eventually said a quiet “Okay”.
For the leaders present there, this sounded like a confirmation. They began celebrating, believing that Sonia had finally agreed to become the country’s next Prime Minister.
But inside the Gandhi family, the reaction was very different.
When Rahul Gandhi came to know that his mother had agreed to accept the position, he was furious.
He questioned her directly, asking whether she had actually said yes. When Sonia explained that she had given in because of the pressure from the leaders, Rahul responded angrily.
“Under pressure? And what about us?” he asked before walking away.
Priyanka Gandhi was equally concerned. With tears in her eyes, she asked her mother not to give in to anyone’s pressure and reminded her to stick to the decision she had already made.
The reactions of her children affected Sonia deeply. She felt that something very serious could happen if she went ahead with the decision.
That night, she could not sleep.
Apart from her family’s concerns, Sonia was also thinking about the political situation that could follow if she became Prime Minister.
She feared that the BJP and the RSS would raise the issue of her foreign origin and use it to create political unrest and divisions in the country.
Her concern was that the debate over her birthplace could turn into a much bigger political controversy at a time when the country needed stability.
After spending a restless night thinking about the decision, Sonia finally became certain that she did not want the Prime Minister’s position.
The next morning, she went to Rahul’s room and told him that she had decided to stick to her original stand.
Rahul hugged his mother and expressed relief. He told her that she had made the right decision.
The final announcement came at the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting in Parliament’s Central Hall.
Sonia Gandhi entered the hall to loud applause. Several MPs wanted her to reconsider her decision and accept the Prime Minister’s position.
But she had already made up her mind.
In her speech, she made it clear that becoming Prime Minister had never been her personal ambition. She said that her inner voice was telling her not to accept the post.
Her announcement left the gathering emotional. Several MPs reportedly broke down in tears, while others surrounded the stage and continued requesting her to change her mind.
The situation became so overwhelming that Sonia had to briefly leave the hall after feeling nervous.
However, when she returned, she remained firm. She asked the MPs to respect her decision and made it clear that she would not change her mind.
With Sonia refusing to take the top position, the question of who would lead the new government became important.
She then proposed the name of Dr Manmohan Singh as her choice for Prime Minister.
The announcement was followed by another round of applause. While some MPs were still emotional about Sonia’s decision, the Congress leadership now had its candidate to lead the government.
Dr Manmohan Singh eventually became India’s Prime Minister in 2004.
For Sonia Gandhi, the decision marked the end of a difficult period filled with political pressure, family concerns and personal doubts.
Her account in Belonging: A Journey of Love offers a glimpse into a side of the 2004 decision that was not visible during the public celebrations and political discussions.
What appeared to be a major political decision from the outside was, for Sonia, also a deeply personal choice shaped by the painful past of her family and her concerns about the country’s future.
Also Read: The Emergency Debate Within The Gandhi Family: Sonia Gandhi Recalls Rajiv And Sanjay’s Roles
