Sonia Gandhi Recalls Reluctance to Take Prime Minister Role in New Book

Sonia Gandhi writes in her new book, Belonging: A Journey of Love, about the intense pressure she faced from alliance leaders to become India's prime minister after an election victory. ## What Happened Both of her children, Rahul and Priyanka, strongly opposed the idea because they feared for her safety following the assassinations of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. During a meeting at her home, alliance leaders surrounded her and pushed her so forcefully to accept the position that she muttered an unintended agreement, which immediately upset her children.

Context Sonia Gandhi entered public life to carry forward the political legacy of her family and protect secular values, but her foreign birth remained a major point of criticism from political rivals. Memoirs by prominent political figures often provide behind-the-scenes accounts of major historical decisions and leadership transitions in the country.