Sonia Gandhi surprised herself, her party, the country and the world by leading the Congress alliance to victory in India's 14th general election. Having shattered the hubris and complacency of the Bharatiya Janata Party government and punctured the pride of the political pundits, she then stunned everyone by turning down the post of prime minister. Why, and with what political and economic effect?
Gandhi's decision to step back from the post of prime minister does not negate the conclusion that the people of India, in voting for her, strongly reaffirmed the values of social and religious inclusion and tolerance.
It does remove a political liability that could have debilitated the shaky coalition government, and possibly led to violence. And, paradoxically, it puts her in a much stronger position to be the guardian of the values of democracy and secularism.