The country had witnessed an interesting drama with so many turn of events in the last one week with Sonia turning down the offer to take the mantle of the highest elected office of this country. Theories are proposed for her action but one thing everyone agrees that she drove straight back the BJP's googly (of attacking her foreign origin). In a quintessential style of an Indian wife she realized her martyr husband's dream of bringing her party back in power. After making sure that more than 300 MPs of the 14th Lok Sabha gave support to her to become the Prime Minister of this country, she suddenly announced that she is not willing to take up the mantle. She basically wanted to prove a point that she is no inferior to the natural citizens of this country and that only on her own volition she keeps herself out of power. By her master stroke, she took the wind out of BJP and nullified the campaign on foreign origin. Whatever be the logics behind the doors, it is evident that Sonia in a single stroke won over the hearts of thousands of Indians who all these days loathed the thought of her adorning the power.

Theories of 'sacrifice', 'cautious and calculated approach' to pave the way for her children, 'indifference to power' are attributed to her decision to stay out of power. It is unheard of in Indian politics that someone who came so close to power (of receiving the appointment letter from the President of the nation to become the Prime Minister) refused to take up the position. Some sections of the Press recalled how Devi Lal when proposed to become the Prime Minister in 1989 turned down the offer and passed on that chance to V P Singh. This does not compare with what Sonia did now as Devi Lal's nomination came up only because Left was not fully in favour of V P Singh at that point in time. It is to outsmart the Left that Devi Lal's nomination was propped up and as per the script Devi Lal refused and nominated V P Singh. But Sonia's refusal to take up the power comes after when she was the star campaigner of 14th Lok Sabha election and more than 300 MPs (50 percent of that support came from non-Congress quarters) insisted her to become the Prime Minister. It definitely requires an exceptional strength of character.

It is also argued that in April 1999 when Jayalalithaa pulled down the then Vajpayee's government, Sonia was in the race to form an alternative government. It was a different thing then as Mulayam Singh Yadav was not supporting that option. Hence the nation went for a general election. But one can not assume that if Mulayam Singh Yadav had supported Congress in 1999, Sonia would not have done what she has done now (refusing to become the PM). Even if one argues that sheerly to keep the PM's seat warming for her children she opted out and put his confident Dr Manmohan Singh in that seat, even then one has to appreciate her political smartness and wisdom. She seems to be giving importance to long term interest over the short term urge. Few analysts also criticize her escapism from taking the responsibility. One can not blame Sonia for this if she wanted to guide her children by living long. It can not be construed as cowardice act given the fact that her family sacrificed her husband and her mother-in-law for the sake of the nation. 

If we criticize her for her cowardice escapist behaviour, we need to give her credit for being a 'great mother' to her children. Either way, she had won the hearts of millions in this country either as a 'great Indian mother' giving utmost importance to taking care of her children's interest or as a 'devoted Indian' (better than the many natural Indians who mortgage the interests of our nation) who sacrificed the highest office in the best interest of the Nation in spite of the fact that the law does not prohibit her from taking up the post. She truly fought against the communal elements of this country and sidelined them by resorting to democratic avenues. This contribution of hers would prove to be a milestone in modern India's history. Tomorrow, the history would identify her as the balancing force against the rightist communal forces. She handed over the mantle to a technocrat although he may lack popular support. She remarked that "the nation is in the safe hands of Dr Singh". Even during the press meet outside the Rashtrapathi Bhavan on 19th May, she prompted Dr Singh to take up the prominence and she confined herself to the background. By this gesture she clearly indicated to the nation that she would not act like a remote control or a shadow PM.

What Congress MPs did in the Parliament hall on the night of May 18, 2004 in an effort to change Sonia's mind is a trademark sycophancy. She is still the President of the Congress party and she is not leaving politics and in that perspective the appeals and tears of some of the Congress MPs was a bit too much and odd. It would auger well for Sonia and the country if she could concentrate on nurturing the Congress party and help in coordinating the coalition partners. By this way, she would truly earn the highest slot in every Indian's heart, as the need of the hour is to provide a stable governance and take India ahead in the 21st century. Any set back in this regard would hugely cost us. The recent events have given confidence that this 'naturalized citizen' would prove to be no less than any 'natural Indian' in protecting Mother India's interests. This objective assessment of Sonia Gandhi is not out of falling prey to the political gimmicks but written out of the gestures of Sonia as an Individual citizen of this country.

The nation's expectation on Sonia has spiraled up when for no reason the stock market spiraled down.