Sonia Gandhi's Memoir Reveals Political Clashes Between Indira Gandhi and Sanjeeva Reddy

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has made several significant political revelations in her memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love, which was released on Tuesday. Recalling the political developments during Indira Gandhi's tenure as Prime Minister, Sonia described the tensions between Indira and former President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy. She explained how the Congress Syndicate, comprising leaders such as K. Kamaraj, S. Nijalingappa and Sanjeeva Reddy, pressured Indira to appoint Morarji Desai as Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Sonia also discussed the 1969 Presidential election, the Syndicate's decision to support Sanjeeva Reddy, Indira's nationalisation of 14 private banks and her backing of V.V. Giri as an independent candidate. The memoir also recounts an alleged message sent by Jayaprakash Narayan to Sanjeeva Reddy ahead of the 1975 Allahabad High Court verdict against Indira Gandhi, which reportedly came to light through surveillance ordered by the then Andhra Pradesh government.

Sonia Gandhi also revisited her political journey, including her electoral debut from Amethi and the 1999 Lok Sabha contest against BJP leader Sushma Swaraj in Bellary, Karnataka. Describing the contest as a political battle resembling a cat-and-mouse game, she recalled how the BJP and RSS attempted to keep her occupied in the constituency. She further explained the challenges involved in forming the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) before the 2004 general elections, particularly the decision to ally with the DMK despite its controversial political history concerning the LTTE. Sonia also recalled questioning her husband, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, over the Shah Bano case. In her memoir, she expressed criticism of the present Modi government, alleging irregularities in electoral rolls and expressing confidence that future generations would work towards restoring democratic values and justice.