Giants make way for Sonia portraits

Who is the tallest leader of the 118-year-old Congress party that has ruled the nation for 46 years ever since India attained independence?

It's not 'Father of the Nation' Mahatma Gandhi, nor is it the first premier Jawaharlal Nehru or Indira Gandhi or even Rajiv Gandhi – the latter three belonging to one family – who together have ruled the country for 41 years.

Judging by portraits in the media room of the party's central office it is Italian-born incumbent president Sonia Gandhi, a first-time lawmaker who is in charge of the party for the past six years.

There are in all half a dozen portraits on the walls. There are three identical sized portraits of Babasaheb Ambedkar who presided over the constituent assembly, followed by those of the first home minister of India Sardar Patel and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

Ambedkar, Patel and Bose still come in handy for the party while seeking votes since they are the leaders of their respective Dalit (lower caste Hindu), Gujarati and Bengali communities.

The party cannot afford to return to power by demeaning them.

Their portraits are followed by a slightly bigger one of Mahatma Gandhi, who today may not get the party any more votes.

A huge portrait just next to that of the Mahatma is one of a smiling Sonia.

A party insider explains that the move is deliberate. "Sonia needs to break free from being seen as being there just due to her connections and needs to establish itself as a leader in her own right."