Sonia's predicament

It could also perhaps be a leaning towards caution. She didn't want Rajiv to enter politics after his mother's tragic death. Her own family members in Italy were not exactly euphoric about her victory. They never liked her decision to enter politics, not because they wanted to protect their daughter from the rough and tumble of a political life, the earlier deaths in the family were enough of a reason.

Also, she knows she would divide the country despite the recent victory, and would have to withstand personal criticism from certain sections of the population, irrespective of her being successful as prime minister or not. More so if she messed it up, and surely then she would be nothing but an open target especially from the BJP cohorts -- her origins and ancestry would then be fair game for all. She has already withstood a fair amount of personal criticism, all harking back at her origin, part of BJP's election platform was just that. The dramatic declaration of Sushma Swaraj threatening resignation from parliament, let alone shaving her head, was a taste of future things to come. Weighing all this up, Sonia Gandhi must have felt she really doesn't need to take that big step. She has achieved more than probably she has ever thought she would, she seemed content with her decision.

Or perhaps it is the shrewdest move Indian politics is yet to see. By declining the highest office she has risen above ordinary mortals of Indian politics, where (as elsewhere) greed and avarice are an integral part of politicking as anywhere else. She will be revered perhaps now forever, and wield more power and authority than she ever did. She ensured her own crowning -- the dowager queen with complete and absolute authority. She will hold all the keys to power and patronage and use them when needed. And as history relates, like past dowager queens bow out when the time is right after securing the throne for her chosen heir. Not before ensuring hereditary and dynastic rights to the future Gandhi progeny -- the mantle will pass to either of the two siblings -- Rahul or Priyanka.

Everything said and done and whatever may be the reason for Sonia Gandhi to decline the top job, India cannot absolve itself from the guilt of pushing her to make that decision. India also cannot absolve itself from the double standard it employs in its judgement. Hypothetically, if today a member of the Indian diaspora is elected to the highest office of any other country, Sushma Swaraj, with all her hair in place, and her cohorts would be one of the first ones to knock at the door and congratulate the person. All of India will also celebrate. The question that will haunt the nation then is that, if it works in this case why doesn't it work in the case of Sonia Gandhi? Perhaps to prove to the contrary Mrs. Gandhi needed to take the Tebbit test. Lord Tebbit had made this famous in Britain, by questioning the British Asian diaspora, namely Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshis, their true allegiance to their adopted country by testing their support in cricket. Demonstrably the majority failed -- it was never England, despite the passport. Fortunately Sonia Gandhi would have passed hands down, as Italy could never be a serious contender in cricket.

Ghalib Chaudhuri, a former CEO of a European Investment Bank in India, is currently managing partner of Octavian Associates, an independent consulting practice based in Singapore.