Reading The Palm

Indeed, much of the rejuvenation of the Congress is linked to the maturing of Sonia as a politician. Congressmen relate with a measure of pride that their party president has at last come into her own and has got her act together. Gone is the Sonia who was unsure of herself. She now has her own people in the cwc. She has not hesitated in seeking the services of the best talent in the party—Manmohan Singh and Narasimha Rao. She has begun to be actively involved in drawing up Congress strategies and party leaders have begun to credit her with political insight.

Notes Congress secretary Anil Shastri: "Her political acumen is much sharper than what most people believe. Even though there are sections within the Congress creating pinpricks for her, she is handling things deftly."