Sonia Gandhi Reveals Rahul and Priyanka Opposed Her Becoming PM in 2004: ‘Absolutely Not!’

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has recalled the emotional turmoil surrounding her decision to turn down the Prime Minister’s post after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won the 2004 general elections. In an excerpt from her upcoming memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, she has revealed that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had opposed the idea of her becoming Prime Minister, fearing for her safety after the assassinations of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

The excerpt, shared with The Indian Express by HarperCollins India, offers an account of the conversations, political pressure and personal considerations that shaped Sonia Gandhi’s decision to step aside and nominate Dr Manmohan Singh as the next Prime Minister.

Rahul and Priyanka Feared for Their Mother's Safety

Sonia Gandhi wrote that the possibility of her becoming Prime Minister had been discussed within the family months before the 2004 elections.

She recalled that when one of her children asked whether she would accept the post if Congress won, she firmly replied, “Absolutely not!”

Both Rahul and Priyanka opposed her becoming Prime Minister because of the violence their family had experienced. They had witnessed the assassination of their grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and the brutal killing of their father, Rajiv Gandhi.

According to Sonia Gandhi, her children associated the Prime Minister’s office with increased security risks and feared that their mother could face similar dangers.

During the election campaign, she avoided giving a clear answer whenever asked about the possibility of becoming Prime Minister. She said her immediate priority was to keep the Congress united and prevent a leadership struggle within the party.

Sonia Gandhi Recalls Pressure From UPA Leaders

Sonia Gandhi said she kept her personal views to herself, including from her closest colleagues. She believed that the person who would carry forward the legacy of previous Congress governments should have extensive administrative experience and an impeccable record of integrity.

However, after the UPA's victory, she found herself torn between her personal reservations and the responsibility she felt towards party workers and voters.

“My emotions were changing, moment to moment. One minute I was clear, the next, I was torn,” she wrote.

She recalled that alliance leaders repeatedly urged her to accept the Prime Minister’s post. At one point, feeling overwhelmed by their insistence, she responded with the words, “Theek hai”.

The leaders immediately took this as her acceptance and began congratulating her before she could finish what she wanted to say.

Rahul and Priyanka Were Unhappy When She Appeared to Agree

Her apparent agreement also upset Rahul and Priyanka. Sonia Gandhi recalled that both approached her with visibly worried expressions after learning that she might accept the position.

She described them as two children who had considered it their responsibility to protect her after their father's assassination.

Sonia Gandhi said the pressure from alliance leaders had already left her exhausted, but she now had to explain her position to her children as well.

Why Sonia Gandhi Decided Against Becoming Prime Minister

In the memoir excerpt, Sonia Gandhi said she believed her decision could have consequences beyond the Congress and affect India's political direction.

She argued that the country needed stable and capable governance, with a focus on development and progress, rather than divisive politics.

She also anticipated that the BJP and its allies would raise her foreign origin as a political issue if she became Prime Minister. She feared that the controversy could overshadow the government's work and deepen political divisions.

Sonia Gandhi wrote that her entry into politics had been driven by her concern that the BJP, backed by the RSS and its associated organisations, would encourage communal tensions and undermine the Constitution if it came to power.

She said she could not accept a position if doing so risked harming the country she loved.

‘The Post of Prime Minister Is Not My Aim’

At a meeting of Congress MPs following the UPA victory, party members once again urged Sonia Gandhi to reconsider. She said she remained firm in her decision, despite the party having unanimously chosen her as its leader.

Addressing the MPs, she reiterated that becoming Prime Minister had never been her ambition and that she would follow her inner voice.

She also said that power and position had never attracted her, adding that her political commitment was to protect India's secular foundations and work for the poor, principles she associated with Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi urged party members to accept her decision and said she would continue working for the Congress and the country.

Sonia Gandhi Names Manmohan Singh as Her Successor

After explaining her position, Sonia Gandhi sought the Congress MPs' approval to nominate her successor and announced Dr Manmohan Singh as the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

She recalled that the announcement was met with loud applause. Several MPs stood up, raised slogans and became emotional.

Rahul and Priyanka also stood up and applauded her decision, marking the end of a tense episode in which their concerns had played a significant role in her choice.