NDA questions Sonia's role in UPA govt

Finding their decision to disrupt parliamentary proceedings not yielding the political dividends they sought, Opposition NDA seems to have decided to step up its attacks on United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and use the move to show her as an "extra constitutional" authority.

During the zero hour in the Lok Sabha, while Telugu Desam Party MP Yerran Naidu protested against naming the Hyderabad Airport after late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi instead of former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao, BJP's BC Khanduri objected to the fact that Sonia Gandhi, an "extra-constitutional" authority, was to inaugurate the facility.

"Who is Sonia Gandhi as far as the government is concerned," said Khanduri and VK Malhotra.

While the NDA staged a walk-out in the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha saw the House being adjourned over the issue. This is not the first time that aspersions have been cast on the UPA chairman. Last Wednesday, the House was disrupted over NDA Convener George Fernandes' comments that Sonia Gandhi would "meet the same fate as Indira Gandhi".

Yesterday, too, the House witnessed noisy scenes when Prabhunath Singh (JD-U) called Gandhi a moorti chor (idol thief), referring to an old accusation that she was exporting Indian antiques abroad.

More significantly, however, this points to a deeper strategy of trying to drive a wedge between Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, by implying that she is a super-constitutional authority and repeatedly forcing Singh to "act more decisively", something which will be resented by Gandhi and her coterie.

The first trace of this was seen in Leader of the Opposition LK Advani's speech during the debate over the motion of thanks on the President's address.

"The Prime Minister with high individual credibility should not be perceived to be invisible, especially in not moving against such acts as the kind indulged in by the Jharkhand Governor," said Advani.

Gandhi, sitting opposite Advani, appeared to be amused by the whole thing, but not the Prime Minister, who stoutly, if ineffectually, defended her and his government.

Later that week, he took the Jharkhand matter in his own hands and recalled Shibu Soren, who had just been sworn in as Chief Minister.

Advani promptly said: "There is at last a glimpse of the Prime Minister."

The message being sent "" Sonia Gandhi was behind the real politik, while Manmohan Singh was an innocent aboard, a juxtaposition that is going to prove problematic.

The BJP seems to have gone back to its pre-2004 Lok Sabha poll strategy of targeting Sonia Gandhi. The last time round, it seemed to have backfired.

But this time, senior BJP leaders say Gandhi's image has changed from being a "helpless Opposition leader to a calculating politician enjoying unlimited power without responsibility".