With Modi as PM, Sonia jittery about Lok Sabha role

Since the Congress leadership has not shown the normal courtesy of calling up and congratulating prime minister-designate, Narendra Modi on his part too has made no attempt to reach out to either Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi. Outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did call up Modi and congratulated him, who in turn in his speech during the meeting of BJP parliamentary party decided to be soft on his predecessor.

Sonia Gandhi had held the position of Leader of Opposition when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was prime minister but at that time Congress’s position in the House was of strength and not as pitiable as it is post 16 May results. Sonia may also have personal problems working with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who unlike Vajpayee has been ruthless in attacking the family.

However, there is a feeling in the party that sooner or later the Gandhis will have to deal with the Prime Minister and the ice will have to be broken. However, the fear of meeting Modi as part of systematic relationship and fear of humiliation at the hands of BJP floor managers has made the first family of the party jittery about taking up the job.

Instead, they would prefer a veteran like Kamal Nath, who has won for the ninth time from his Chindwara seat, to take on the job. Nath was also the parliamentary affairs minister in the outgoing government. However, what’s coming in the way is party protocol as in case of Nath becoming parliamentary party leader Sonia and Rahul Gandhi would have to technically function under him. The others in the race are Mallikarjun Kharge and Veerappa Moily.