On Hand

Learning from mistakes, Sonia Gandhi has made the impossible look possible ("Upper Hand", December 2). Her greatest achievement has been the conversion of the tina (There is no Alternative) factor into sita (Sonia is the Alternative). By following the path of consensus and with dedicated hard work, yesterday's reader of speeches has transformed into today's leader.

S. BALAKRISHNAN, Jamshedpur

Sonia owes her pre-sent stature not to any inherent qualities but to the incompetence of A.B. Vajpayee and his men in managing the affairs of the state. The prime ministership is going to be handed to her on a platter.

DR VINOY KUMAR SINHA, Ranchi

The fact that the Congress controls 15 states-three times the number when she took over the party reins-is in itself a tremendous compliment to the Sonia factor in the party.

HUSAIN E. BEGUWALA, Mumbai

You seem determined to place a semi-literate housewife at the helm of the country. Even overlooking Sonia's foreign origin, her contribution to this country has been nil. As leader of the Opposition, she has been opportunistic, greedy and banal with not one original thought or action. In a country that has produced several outstanding people, it is a shame that we should hype mediocrities like Sonia.

Vrinda Pillay, Delhi

If Sonia makes a much-needed bold and effective prime minister, who cares about her origins?

Navneet Dhawan, Delhi

What is so special about Sonia? She lacks vision, statesmanship and conviction. Too many errors by the nda could catapult her to power but how efficient and able she would be as the next prime minister is the moot question. Is our democracy so cheap that an illustrious lineage is the only qualification required to ascend the seat of power?

P. SUNAYANA, Coimbatore

"Our behaviour during international events shows if we have modernised. If we continue to behave like savages, India will always be viewed as a land of snake charmers."

ABHINAV VATS, Jaipur

Sonia has neither the magnetic charisma of Jawaharlal Nehru nor the manipulative skills of Indira Gandhi. Sycophancy and hypocrisy-the traditional hallmarks of Congressmen-took Indira and Rajiv to glory and undid them later. The same factors could work wonders for Sonia too in the current political scenario but could also prove to be heavy millstones around her neck in the long run.

T.S. PATTABHI RAMAN, Coimbatore

Three factors work against the possibility of Sonia becoming prime minister: unlike other prime ministers who reigned for long periods, she lacks charisma; people who surround her are sycophants; and coalition politics, which is the order of the day, works against her interests and Sonia is no Machiavelli.

H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana, on e-mail

Though Sonia has emerged as a stronger and focused politician with 15 states under her portfolio, it is merely a dream to rule at the Centre without crucial states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Bihar in her kitty.

BAL GOVIND, on e-mail

Sonia's strength seems to be growing only in comparison with the reducing size and strength of the bjp. One must, however, recognise that there are several tall leaders in the bjp unlike in the Congress, which has one boss and several pygmies.

N. NARASIMHAN, on e-mail

sonia's ascension in the public's eyes can be seen in light of a fox snatches a piece of meat from a careless leopard but who can never beat the feline in catching prey.

RAJNEESH BATRA, Delhi