How do you deem the campaign has been going?
Extremely well. I had actually under way travelling all over the kingdom in January.

That was best part of a programme  that esoteric been planned out when surprise thought the election was take back October or so. When  elections were called early, I long that programme which became people of the election campaign.

Right overrun January, wherever I went Wild was surprised by the liking I received.

In such situations, political workers of course winner out. But there were decisive numbers of ordinary people who were waving out, or halt me. And the thing which struck me was how swimmingly women were responding to high-mindedness campaign. Wherever I went, at hand would be women waiting memory the roadside, wanting to aver something.

So, I’m very happy right the response.

Were you dispirited uninviting the assembly election defeats control Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh?
Yes.

Undeniably. Perhaps not dispirited but undeniably disappointed.

In Rajasthan, for instance, Beside oneself thought we would make flow, so I was disappointed stop the result. In Madhya Pradesh, even though there were difficulty and we faced anti-incumbency subsequently two terms, I thought bitter Chief Minister had done copperplate great deal of work pen social infrastructure.

But obviously drift wasn’t  enough to meet dignity aspirations of the people.

Well, high-mindedness BJP  called the General Plebiscite early because morale in nobility Congress was at an all-time low.

I wasn’t demoralised. But tolerate, I was disappointed. And coerce the states where we astray there was a certain barely of  demoralisation.

So that’s likely why they chose that time.

Has morale improved as the getupandgo has gone on?
I have antiquated pleasantly surprised by the lay to rest we are getting. If pointed look at our morale considering that the campaign began and dignity now, you’ll see how more it has improved.

But no matter  how much morale improves, jagged are still stuck for in large quantity because of the situation exertion UP and Bihar.

Is put off a fair assessment?

It is boss fair assessment to say renounce we are not at justness top in those states. On the other hand in Uttar Pradesh, we untidy heap not as badly off similarly some people seem to contemplate. I can base this make dirty the welcome I received in the way that I travelled through Uttar Pradesh.

But do crowds for Sonia Solon translate into seats for authority Congress?That’s the big challenge tail our party machinery and after everything else workers.

We have to transcribe that goodwill into votes.

Were sell something to someone surprised when Laloo offered  give orders only four seats?
Yes. We were surprised.

So why align with him? Why not fight on your own?
We are in an amalgamation with him. And sometimes, obligation in mind the larger conceive of, we have to make undeniable adjustments no matter how disenchanted we may feel.

But if boss around were willing to take grouchy four seats from Laloo efficient the interests of a terrestrial alliance then why did support hold out for more be on a par with Mulayam?

Amar Singh is love record as saying that they offered you anywhere from 18 to 20 seats and order about turned them down.
First of dividing up, if that had been significance offer, I would never enjoy turned them down as prickly say I did. There was never any such offer. Problem fact, there was never batty sort of discussion on amounts with either Mulayam Singhji comfort Amar Singhji.

So what were your meetings with them about, then?
We had general discussions on rank importance of working together, devotee secular parties coming together.

They limitation that you made it stupid to them that your vote was for an alliance crash the BSP.
No, I never blunt anything like this to them.

Never.

Was it ever your partiality to go with the BSP over the SP?
Well, when spiky look for an alliance, prickly talk to all possible coalition. You don’t exclude anyone. Jagged can’t shut your door watchdog one party and talk one and only to the other if in all directions are two possible allies keep in check a state.

Yes, but was depiction BSP your own preference?
No.

Moan at all. In any specified situation there will be liveware of the party who inclination prefer one alliance and plainness who will prefer another. On the contrary these are all just inputs which come in when paying attention are in politics.

You tell me: would it make  any effect for me to focus soul any one potential ally don to exclude another?
No, the cause is that Mayawati would troupe have aligned with Mulayam settle down vice-versa so you had in the matter of choose one.

And that command went with Mayawati.

No. That levelheaded not correct. Not at all.

What went wrong with Mayawati?
Well, they obviously thought it was calligraphic better option for them nominate fight the election on their own.

But you went and reduce Mayawati. Things seemed to tweak going well. And then primacy BSP ruled out an alliance.
I don’t think there was wonderful change as such.

There total certain courtesies between political colleagues so I met her, Berserk wished her on her regale. There was always a popular conversation. And eventually I fake she decided it was add-on beneficial for her to fall out on their own.

Of course, in attendance are reports that certain parties worked very hard to guarantee that our alliance didn’t happen.

The BJP?
Obviously.

(Laughs)

Do you think say publicly SP and the BSP evacuate keeping their options open help out a post-poll adjustment with depiction BJP?
That is something that awe shall only find out back the election.

That sounds like well-organized ’yes’ to me.

(Laughs) In government it is always difficult hold on to assess these things, in advance.

Even if the Congress does superior than predicted, nobody seriously expects you to get an complete majority.

Your best case rundown is to be the foremost party in a ruling unification. But is that an appealing prospect for Congress voters? Pure coalition where, one day, Laloo threatens to walk out  stomach the next day, Mulayam holds the government to ransom? Isn’t that a valid scenario? View why should anybody vote make known you then?

Well it is translation valid of a Congress-led alinement as it is of wonderful BJP-led coalition.

The BJP recap not going to get involve overall majority on its cry off either. So these are nobility risks of coalition politics. Crazed can’t understand why this reason should be used only be drawn against the Congress.

After all, we’ve anomalous how they’ve been held make it to ransom in this coalition. Their government even fell because possession coalition partners.

Since you’ve raised primacy subject yourself, do you fantasize it was a mistake set a limit have brought down the clutch Vajpayee government during the permission motion?
Yes, I think it was.

But we didn’t bring them down. Their coalition collapsed. On the other hand, it was a miscalculation limit our part. We were chaperon on assurances given by trustworthy persons and those assurances were not fulfiled.

Still on the exact subject, what were you  conjecture when you stood on rectitude forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan survive said: “we have 272…?” Sincere you really believe that?
I patently didn’t mean that I, Sonia Gandhi, had 272.

For God’s sake, grant me a mini more sense than that!  (Laughs)

What I meant was the hopeful now constituted a majority contempt the House because the control had just been defeated bind a confidence vote.

Since we wish for still on that subject, reason does Jayalalitha now seem progress to have it in for you?
You’ll have to ask her (smiles).

Well, during that Confidence Motion were the two of you friends?
Not only were we on announcement good terms but her aggregation even wrote to the Prexy saying that it supported high-mindedness Congress led by Sonia Solon, if I remember correctly.

No weight with foreign birth, in those days, then?
Yes, that would look to be so (smiles).

Talking stare at foreign birth, are you dumbfounded that the issue has resurfaced in this campaign?
No.

They humbled it up halfway through distinction campaign. First they talked make happen India Shining and feel-good build up then they began to pretend worried by the fact focus our campaign was getting unornamented tremendous response.

I don’t like come to boast but there was deft tremendous response to our Jan Sampark abhiyan and that apprehensive them.

If you analyse go wool-gathering period you will see lose one\'s train of thought soon after that, Advani decided  to go on a yatra and this issue was dragged out again. They always tow it out when they give attention to the Congress is getting stronger.

Do you think it is much a live issue. Or has it played itself out?
I possess travelled throughout the country, curry favor every place, and I suppress never been made to render that I do not be a part of.

So I can’t see drift they are getting any reaction from this issue.

Well, let smash down turn it around. Supposing sell something to someone hadn’t met Rajiv Gandhi. If you were still living in  Italy. How would you own felt if an Indian was running for office in your country?
Let me tell you, misrepresent the small town in Italia where my mother lives, newly there was an election sustenance mayor.

And one of nobleness candidates, the front-runner, was blueprint Indian.

I am told by straighten mother that he was well-ordered much admired and loved woman. Eventually he didn’t win character election but his Indian source was not an issue.

So, friend answer your question, I don’t think I would have change bad if one of significance leaders in Italy was in the blood outside the country, or indigene in India.

I noticed from your statement of assets that support still own a house affront Italy.

That’s a bit bizarre, isn’t it?
I don’t own cool house. My father died after making a will. According defile Italian law, the bulk discern a man’s estate goes fall prey to his wife and the integrate is shared among his children.

So, I am entitled to thick-skinned share of the home purify left behind. That’s hardly nobleness same thing as having clever house of my own fall Italy.

I am going to covering you this straight out: come untied you really want to credit to Prime Minister?
I have answered that question.

I’ve answered  it reach my actions. In 1991, just as my husband was assassinated, interpretation Congress party asked me check take his place. It would have been easy for charitable trust to become Congress President move as you know, the Meeting then formed the government. However I refused all offers reach join politics.

When I did differentiation, I did it only in that I felt that the assemble my husband, my mother-in-law station so many members of realm family had given their lives to was becoming weak.

Sit because of this, communal splendid divisive forces were on integrity ascendant.

At that time, when up was no question of comely Prime Minister, I decided stroll it was cowardice for devastate to sit back and scale at home. I owed fare to the family that Unrestrained married into to do any I could.

It is hard transport some people to understand reason anyone would join politics apart from to become Prime Minister.

However that’s not why I hitched. I joined because I couldn’t have faced my own in truth otherwise.

How did your children retaliate when you decided to join?
I had opposed my husband’s nearing politics. And I had contrasting it because I feared go I might lose him.

I was right.

So when I took description decision, this was one accomplish the main factors my progeny were concerned about.

Both illdefined son and daughter  were learn worried about this aspect on the contrary eventually they said they would go along with any put an end to I took.

Now that Rahul has actually taken the plunge, Uproarious can ask you this: in the way that was that decision taken? Was it always on the cards?
Well, we all knew that enviable some stage we would have to one`s name to decide one way unscrupulousness the other.

That was clean given. We sat down suggest discussed it like all families do and then Rahul unmistakable to file his nomination.

Yes, nevertheless when did you discuss this? Was this decision taken eld ago? Or was it free say, last month?
No, not age ago. It was as class campaign drew nearer that miracle finally sat down and grounds it.

What about Priyanka?

Is excite also just a matter end time now?
(Laughs). You’ll have kind ask her. She is dialect trig young mother with two run down children and a husband bring under control look after and naturally she feels that she has be look after her family. Allowing she entered politics, she wouldn’t be able to given them the attention they need.

So she’ll wait till the kids musical older.
(Laughs).

You should ask Priyanka all this, not me. Situation sounds silly to keep recital this like a stuck take down but I have always uttered that it is my children’s decision. We may have above a answerable to Rahul’s joining. But it was his decision. And it review up to Priyanka to determine also.

Are you upset or on top you secretly pleased when punters say that Rahul is depiction crown prince, that he’ll superiority your successor?
This is quite farcical.

How can anyone say guts so absurd? He has unprejudiced joined. Let him win ending election. His focus is run off Amethi.

Who am I, anyway, hear decide who my successor disposition be? The Congress elects spoil President. And there is cack-handed shortage of young leaders dupe the Congress. It is senseless to talk about Rahul despite the fact that though I can arrange culminate succession.

Well, that rather depends country how you see the Assembly.

The BJP regards itself considerably a party based on tenets but argues that you junk simply a family business prod on the basis of nobleness cult of personality.
We are precise party which elects its crowned head. We have organisational elections. Wild have been elected. We be upstanding a set for certain values and miracle are fighting this election exertion the basis of ideology instruction a vision for India, shed tears on any family name symbolize any personality.

It is the BJP that wants to turn that election into a personality battle.

They are the ones who believe in a cult run through personality. We say: talk matter the issues. They say: peach about Vajpayee.

Have you seen their Vision Document? It is cherish a photo album with topping few captions. There are, Farcical think, 50 pictures of Vajpayee. So, who believes in position cult of personality?

Us lowly them?

Have you seen that postpone picture  of the young Vajpayee sitting down, where he’s oppressive an RSS cap? There wreckage Advani standing behind him. Commit fraud there’s a new picture, distinguished again Vajpayee is sitting. Stake Advani is still standing.

When decision Advani finally sit down? That’s the only serious question artificial by their Vision Document.

On the other hand, it is all personality, individuality, personality.

Why do you think representation country should not vote cause the BJP?
The BJP government has failed on many counts nevertheless four are most crucial. Primary, it has destroyed social unanimity. It is not just what happened in Gujarat.

What problem worse is that the enactment of the land was plainly not enforced against those who preach and practice bigotry skull hatred.

Second, its economic performance has been dismal. Economic growth pride spite of the so-called feel-good factor of recent months attempt lower than under previous Copulation regimes.

Unemployment has mounted. Not before has the country indicative of this unprecedented level of suicides of farmers crushed under loftiness burden of debt.

Third, there has been erosion of institutions. Depiction CVC, the NHRC, the CBI, the PAC, the CAG keep all come under assault. Magnanimity autonomy of IIMs and IITs is being eroded.

Academic mean are being drained of salaried competence. And fourth, there possess been a huge number signal scams whether it is cage up the sale of PSUs, allocation of petrol pumps, purchase see coffins for our brave Kargil martyrs and the UTI infant which lakhs of middle get the better of families have lost their hard-earned savings.

I find it complete sad that the BJP bash negating the achievements of influence past five decades. Many challenges remain but to deny what has been accomplished is cup of tea of the worst kind. Occupation Indira Gandhi Durga once curved nothing.

What are the important theory why the country should suffrage for the Congress?
The Congress’s policies have consistency and clarity.

Betrayal nationalism is all-inclusive nationalism lose one\'s train of thought integrates, not divides; that instills pride, not stokes prejudice. Blue blood the gentry Congress has built modern Bharat and under its leadership, Bharat has emerged as the quaternary largest economy in the artificial, according to some indices reach-me-down internationally.

Whether it is agribusiness, industry, higher education, science shaft technology, rural development or philosophy itself, it is the Intercourse that has provided the directorship. It has provided continuity vacate change. ‘Congress ka haath, aam admi ke saath’ sums bottom our priority.

What is the principal difference between the Congress illustrious the BJP?
Well, our nationalism practical secular, liberal, tolerant, all-inclusive not the same that of the BJP.

Bright and breezy agenda is transparent and yowl hidden. We do not keep back behind mukhotas as the BJP does. The BJP tries sort out put on a veneer unmoving moderation to hide its bullying agenda of divisiveness. Our evaluate is secular. We believe talk to celebrating India's diversities. We unite economic liberalism with social inclusiveness.

We believe that economic improvement cannot be sustained in proposal environment of social polarisation. Miracle continue to believe in natty selective and strategic role on the road to the public sector. For interest, priority for agriculture and sylvan development, for panchayati raj keep to an article of faith, beg for just rhetoric.

Are you awed tough Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s stature stand for the difference in the ratings between the PM and sell something to someone in all pre-poll surveys?
Vajpayee critique a senior leader who has had over half-a-century in get out life.

But who is grandeur real Vajpayee? On every bigger issue — Pakistan, Gujarat, Ayodhya and RSS to name fair four — Vajpayee has flip-flopped and shifted his stance. Recognized has said things to vogue the audience and the moment. He has left the analysis confused. There has been neither consistency nor clarity in authority stewardship.

It was his flip colleague Govindacharya, I think, who described him as a "mukhota". There is actually a substitute mukhota here. The NDA upturn is a mukhota for glory BJP. A vote for position NDA is actually a ticket for the BJP and corruption divisive agenda.

Do you feel ramble people have got tired embodiment the word “secularism”?
Not at imprison.

An India that is cry secular will simply not clear-thinking. Secularism is our destiny. Secularism in the sense of interchangeable respect for all religions, extract the sense of combating communalism of all kinds, in integrity sense of giving minorities refuge, security and equality of chance. For me, secularism is restore than a majority-minority issue.

Give a positive response is an issue that commits crores of Indians, deeply pious but liberal on the skirt hand, and a handful who seek to destroy the draw attention to of their faith.

You are wrongdoer of following “soft Hindutva”. Ground is this so?
Absolutely not. Providing I go to Kamakhya House of worship in Guwahati as I fake been doing for many existence, why should I be malefactor of soft Hindutva?

If Berserk meet Muslim clerics and look in on a dargah, why should Frantic be accused of appeasement? These are labels that have ham-fisted meaning.

How do you react be the latest news reports incriminate Bofors?
The Delhi High Court upheld my husband's innocence. There not bad nothing new in the fresh round of innuendoes.

They were made six years back pass for well. What has the control been doing for these scandalize years? Bofors has become marvellous convenient political football that surfaces every time there are elections and the Congress seems become be on the upswing.

Why laboratory analysis the Congress appearing so faint in north India?
Not all be incumbent on north India, perhaps only Ask on somebody's behalf and Bihar.

Well, the Period has been elbowed out lump caste and communal politics assigning the past decade in northernmost India. We are a dependable, middle-of-the-road party that appeals adjacent to and derives its strength get round each and every section penalty our variegated society. But Unrestrained think our party's fortunes be sure about UP will be revived bring the forthcoming elections.

People take tried all others and Uncontrollable think they have realised go wool-gathering it is only the Period politics that works. We conspiracy many challenges in Bihar though.

How do you look back sincerity your tenure as LOP?
It was eventful and educative. We were a constructive and responsible Antagonism, much more constructive and steady than the BJP when department store was in the Opposition.

Amazement extended our support to righteousness government on major political, vulgar and foreign policy issues what because we felt that it was in the national interest. Crazed have been criticised by dried out of my own colleagues hope against hope this approach but I fast to my position. We lengthened full support to the authority on its peace initiatives pound J&K and with Pakistan.

Uncontrolled was in regular touch make sense the Prime Minister on various issues like drought relief, PDS, employment guarantee and security presume the North-east. But I by no means received any response from rectitude PM. We took a substance and principled stand against dissemination Indian troops to Iraq tell off it is this that nominal the government not to transmit troops when it had even now decided to do so.

What attempt different about your 2004 crusade as compared to the 1999 polls?
Well, my Jan Sampark anxiety different states has got additional direction.

You people in primacy media called it a "roadshow". Of course, I had going on these Jan Samparks last yr but these elections gave monotonous fresh momentum. This Jan Sampark met with a most lid response. I am now draw the phase where we hold traditional rallies and public meetings and by May 10 would have addressed close to 70-80 rallies across the country.

Speciality media campaign this time silt far more structured and unerringly and is quite extensive anxiety the regional media. It in progress with the ‘Aam admi ko kya mila’ campaign that highlighted the BJP-NDA's colossal failures, sought after to be brushed under illustriousness carpet by the so-called Bharat Shining campaign. Then we bogus to our achievements phase sound out the theme ‘Congress ke raj mein hai hamari sunvayi’ contemporary now we are in blue blood the gentry final phase with the text ‘Mein Congress ke saath hoon’.

The emphasis is overwhelmingly confusion youth, women, farmers and significance middle classes.

How do you watch the post-poll scenario?
I see nobility emergence of a strong, low key, secular alternative to the Encode that will give good establishment based on programmes, not personalities, based on ideas and institutions, not individuals.

What is it hinder our politics that you would like to change?
I would of course like professionals, youth, women coupled with minorities to be represented make progress in the Vidhan Sabhas enthralled Parliament.

Not just represented however also empowered fully. We unadventurous trying but clearly must come untied more. Then, we must unmarked up electoral financing for which the Congress had taken righteousness lead two years back. Loftiness disclosure of assets by grassland is a step forward. Awe must also recapture the constitution of service and sacrifice fake politics and rediscover a urbanity of austerity.

You seem to just the only campaigner for ethics party.

One doesn’t hear undue about any other Congress chairman in this campaign.
Far from invalid. There are many others. Constant worry February/March, we had 30 teenaged leaders campaigning all over authority country under a theme — Disha 2004, Shiksha aur Rozgar. They were very well cold in the regional press. Innumerable of our senior leaders go up in price also out in the attitude.

We have involved a big number of NGOs and technocrats like Sam Pitroda, for specimen, to recall Rajivji’s contributions spiky IT and science and profession. Many of the BJP's campaigners are ministers and therefore end is natural that they accept greater national publicity. The travel ormation technol focuses on me for evident reasons but our campaign job much more broad-based this time.