Sonia Gandhi faced some setbacks. In the assembly elections Congress badly lost out to BJP in M.P., Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. It lost power in all three states. But strong entrenchment of Congress in Delhi and North-Eastern states gave her hope. The defeats did not dampen the spirits of Sonia Gandhi because she knew parliamentary elections would be totally a different battle where only national issues with a different perspective would count. The massive victory of BJP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh made NDA leaders exult and overconfident. The shallow ones of them gloated and made boastful tall claims. So ego blown they became that BJP and NDA leaders began to think of early parliamentary polls seriously. To them it seemed a walk in the park. And the huge popularity of A.B. Vajpayee appeared a sure winner. So sure of their victory NDA was that one of their leaders thought Indian politics was going to become a unipolar affair.
They gave no chance to Sonia Gandhi.
The partners of BJP in NDA also favoured early polls to reap the harvest of favourable wave. So, NDA government recommended dissolution of parliament and early elections. Election commission announced the polls to be held in four phases between 20th April and May 10, 2004.
Meanwhile, Left Front was determined to get rid of NDA government. Lalu Yadav was dead set against communal BJP. They agreed to support Sonia Gandhi unconditionally. Under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi secular parties formed UPA (United Progressive Alliance) to challenge NDA. Ironically Sharad Pawar, the earlier detractor also came under the umbrella of Sonia Gandhi.
Meanwhile, overconfident of victory NDA devised ‘India Shining’ and ‘Feel Good’ slogans. Their leader L.K. Advani began his campaign on his high platform ‘Rathyatra’ (Chariot Voyage). In contrast Sonia Gandhi started her campaign through road shows remaining close to the ground, meeting small groups of grassroot people and establishing contact with the common man. Her endearing slogan was ‘Congress ka haath, aam aadmi ke saath’ (The hand of Congress, for common man’s progress).
The NDA leaders were totally out of touch with the ground realities and couldn’t read the mind of the voters. Their minds were sealed inside Utopian cocoons. Communal mindset had made them insensitive to the feelings of the common man. The social and communal hatred created by their outfits had vitiated the atmosphere and made life of the people miserable. The people were yearning to return to the sane world of secularism where one could breathe easy. And that was what Sonia Gandhi was exactly promising and touching voter’s heart. There were thin crowds to cheer Advani because majority was not feeling any good about Guajrat and Mumbai communal carnage. India was shining only in the imaginations of BJP leaders.
On May 13, 2004 counting of votes began. As the trends started coming in, NDA leaders looked in discomfiture. Something had seriously gone wrong. In stunned silence and unbelieving eyes they stared at T.V. screens as UPA stole a march and stormed ahead in results tally.
In Andhra assembly polls Congress won 226 seats out of 294 and wrested power from NDA partner TDP The same trends reflected in Lok Sabha results.
Congress led UPA won 224 Lok Sabha seats out of 539. Its poll ally ‘Left Front’ had bagged about 60 seats. NDA tally stopped at 187. For it the poll outcome was ‘Feel Bad’. In Tamil Nadu UPA won all the seats. BJP and AIADMK got blanked out.
It was truly Sonia Gandhi’s election. The victory of UPA was indeed the fruit of her hard work. She travelled extensively during election campaign and addressed largest number of rallies, meetings and roadside gatherings. For secular India Sonia fought relentlessly and tirelessly.
We have already covered how Sonia Gandhi sacrificed her chance to become Prime Minister and put Manmohan Singh in that post as her chosen one. Congress was back in power, thanks to Sonia.
Her UPA allies accepted her choice with due respect to her. Sonia Gandhi agreed to become Chairperson of UPA and continue to lead the alliance.