Gujarat election results appear to have taken a toll on Congress President Sonia Gandhi. At least that is what party leaders, who attended the Republic Day reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, noticed. In contrast to host President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who was mixing with his guests, Sonia remained glued to her seat, sharing company with two non-political women, the late President S.D. Sharma's widow Vimla and Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani's wife Kamla. The leader of the Opposition appeared so frosty and unapproachable that even party MPs who were present did not have the nerve to go up to her and chat.

AT THE RECEIVING END: Dancer Sonal Mansingh with Sonia at the reception

Sonia's mood seems to have affected the party too. Emerging from his meeting with Sonia recently, former Maharashtra minister Ranjit Deshmukh told reporters that he had been asked to head the state unit. His declaration not only raised eyebrows in the AICC but also piqued Sonia. How could Deshmukh break the news about the PCC appointment before the AICC formally announced it? The incumbent PCC chief Govindrao Adik had not yet resigned and consultations on the new Government were still on. Sonia instructed AICC General Secretary K. Vayalar Ravi to convey her displeasure to Deshmukh. In turn, a shocked Deshmukh blamed the news-hungry electronic media for ambushing him outside 10 Janpath. The end result, of course, is that the AICC has so far refused to confirm Deshmukh's appointment. Adik continues to hold fort and the AICC has begun searching for an alternative. Clearly, the Congress is on the back foot.