Sonia brews a spicy tea for newshounds

Smoke aroma rose from roasting meat, and the dosas, hot and crisp, were laid on the table. But the delicacies were farthest from every reporter's mind, for Sonia Gandhi was there to get a byte out of.

Gandhi celebrated one year of the Congress-led UPA government with reporters over high tea. She talked a lot both in Hindi and English, giggled a lot and was frank enough to pass questions that she felt might hurt the sensitivities of UPA partners.

She was reminded by a reporter that she had met them exactly a year ago, just after the elections. How did she evaluate the year gone by?

She sighed. "When we started," she said, "I was full of trepidation. So much needed to be done. Slowly, we could gain confidence. We have not done too badly. In fact, we have done well," she said.

But what about the Left? Asked another reporter. "We knew about the Left when we started out. I am hosting a dinner tomorrow. I am confident that the Left will come. I am optimistic," she said.

"The Congress has entered a coalition for the first time at the Centre. What is the experience like ?" Gandhi thought for a moment but was frank in her reply. "If I say something, it might be misunderstood by the allies. So I'd rather not say," she said.

"Lalu Prasad is your railway minister. He has been charge-sheeted," the media asked her matter-of-factly. "I have nothing to say on this," was her reply. Would she have included tainted ministers in her Cabinet if she'd been the Prime Minister? "A former Prime Minister said it is the PM's prerogative to appoint ministers," she said firmly.

One reporter wondered what was going to become of the younger MPs who had entered the Lok Sabha with idealism and hopes. "You will see. I will include many of them in the party," she said. "And Rahul?" asked a reporter. "They're all like Rahul for me," she said.

Gandhi smiled ruefully when she was asked about Jharkhand where the JMM-Congress combine tried to install a government but failed. "We have made many mistakes in Jharkhand and the senior leadership of the party is aware of it," she said. "The final responsibility rests with the boss and I am responsible for what happened," she added, an admission that was made readily.

What about turning Mumbai into Shanghai ? "That's a long shot, I'd say. We're worried about the power situation," she said.

She nibbled at a rava idli and a vada, drank a cup of sugarless tea and left smiling.

The Opposition has accused the UPA of vindictive politics, she was told. "The Prime Minister is heading the government and he is not a vindictive person at all. Nor am I," she said and then added, rather spoiling the effect, "They (the Opposition) are lucky to have people like us, considering what they did to Mrs Gandhi," presumably referring to Indira Gandhi.

The Prime Minister has given the government 6 out of 10. "I was never very good at mathematics," she said. "I am satisfied with the government, the party could have done better..." she said. She nibbled at a rava idli and a vada, drank a cup of sugarless tea and left smiling.