I Never Wanted Pm's Job, Says Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi, the leader of India's Congress party, said yesterday she had never wanted to become prime minister despite winning an unexpected victory at general elections in May.

Breaking a six-month silence over her surprise decision not to take office, the 58-year-old told an international conference she had "never wanted to occupy the chair. Right from the beginning my aim was to strengthen the secular forces in government."

Mrs Gandhi's triumph was against the odds, with almost every commentator predicting victory for the incumbent rightwing Hindu nationalist-led administration. Had she become prime minister she would have been the fourth member of the Nehru/Gandhi clan to lead India since independence in 1947.

Although she appeared to dither for a few days after the elections, the Italian-born Mrs Gandhi appointed Manmohan Singh, a former finance minister, as prime minister in the Congress-dominated government.

"You know, sometimes the flesh is weak," she quipped when asked about the delay.

Mrs Gandhi took over the day-to-day running of Congress. Dismissing opposition charges that she was now the "power behind the throne", she said such accusations were levelled against her when her late husband Rajiv was prime minister.

"I am not the power behind the throne. I do not wish to be power behind the throne ... When Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister, I was supposed to have sacked ministers, brought new ones. [I do] not look at government files or take government decisions."

With an audience of Asian diplomats and power brokers, including Henry Kissinger, Mrs Gandhi spoke about India's future, its relations with the Bush administration and possible political roles for her two children.

She congratulated George Bush on his victory, saying India had a good relationship with the US and the government would "work to sustain it and improve it".

She said she hoped Washington would take note of India's "security concerns".

She also said her son, Rahul, who won a seat in parliament, needed to gain more political experience before taking on a bigger role. "He will gain more experience by looking after his constituency and understanding the organisation of the Congress party."

She ruled out the entry of her daughter, Priyanka, into the family business. "She is the mother of two small children and at the moment is fully concentrated on her family."

Mrs Gandhi's speech was a far cry from previous interviews in which she appeared unsure and hesitant. Dressed in a red sari and brown woollen shawl, she spoke about reform of the UN security council as well as the urgent need to reach out India's poor masses.

To a question from Imran Khan, the Pakistani cricketer turned politician, on how would she distinguish a freedom struggle from terrorism, an allusion to the restive Himalayan state of Kashmir, she said he was "referring to our eternal problem and we are keen to overcome it".

Pakistan and India are holding talks on Kashmir, which is claimed by both, but progress has been slow.

Many diplomats remarked on how relaxed and confident Mrs Gandhi appeared. One said her transformation had been dramatic given "that she appeared to shrink from public performances in the past".

Mr Khan paid tribute to her, saying she was one of the most remarkable politicians in the region. He added that it was not in the south Asian psyche to give up power.

"It is incredible that someone who has the opportunity to become PM would stand back and let someone else in," he said.