Sonia "felt better" that someone else became PM in 2004

Prasun Sonwalkar
London, Dec 17 (PTI) After stepping aside in favour of
Manmohan Singh to head the new UPA government in 2004,
Congress President Sonia Gandhi "felt better" that someone
else became prime minister and did not regret her decision.
According to a secret US cable released by WikiLeaks,
Gandhi has also promised to write a book detailing the tense
moments on the issue of who will become prime minister after
the Congress-led UPA emerged victorious in the 2004 Lok Sabha
elections.
Stating that she is often asked why she turned down the
top job, Italian-born Gandhi told a visiting US dignitary in
New Delhi in 2006 that "I am often asked about this, but tell
people that I will write a book someday with the whole story."
The 2006 cable details Gandhi's meeting with Maria
Shriver, the First Lady of California and wife of Governor
Arnold Shwarznegger. It is is titled 'A Garrulous Sonia Gandhi
Opens Up to Maria Shriver'.
Reporting the meeting, the cable says about Gandhi:
"She would only say that she 'felt better' that someone else
became PM and 'did not regret' her decision."
"Shriver congratulated Mrs Gandhi for her resoluteness
and described her as 'courageous.'"
The cable adds: "She (Gandhi) elaborated, at Karan
Singh's insistence, saying that she was under lots of
pressure, as the 'party workers' were 'very upset.' They
'could not understand' why she, as party President, was not
taking up the post, since they had voted for her and won a
majority."
Describing what appeared to be a very cordial meeting,
the cable says Gandhi opened up and "revealed a rare
glimpse of herself.
"Usually withdrawn and reserved in public, she spoke
at great length and radiated confidence on women's issues and
some aspects of her private life".
It was the rise of the BJP and right-wing politics that
"compelled" her to enter politics, despite much reluctance,
according to the cable.
The cable says: "In a candid revelation of her personal
political stance, Mrs Gandhi stated that 'the right (wing) was
becoming strong in India and Congress weak,' tipping her hand
and 'compelling' her to enter politics to protect the Gandhi
family legacy.
"She also revealed that her children were 'not keen'
about the idea, but eventually told her, 'whatever you decide,
we will back you.'"
Gandhi, the cable says, revealed that her parents
objected to her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi and she "resented
their position" and went ahead and married him anyway. PTI
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