But the development is a setback for the Congress inasmuch as the three are seen to be playing into the hands of the BJP. Even so it is better for the party to discuss the matter at this juncture rather than wait for the elections when the BJP would be in a position to exploit the issue to the hilt. The letter finds fault with her leadership mainly on two grounds -- her Italian origin and lack of political experience. Since the letter itself extols the role she played in rejuvenating the party, which had shown signs of disintegration under Sitaram Kesri, the argument that her ancestry should be held against her does not hold water.

Moreso when the voters have given their verdict on her leadership in successive elections. But more important is whether a person with little experience should be projected as the prime ministerial candidate in a country like India. The manner in which she conducted herself after the fall of the Vajpayee government lends credence to their argument that she is unequal to the task of providing leadership.

The wording of the letter makes it abundantly clear that the three leaders do not want to remain in the party for long, particularly after asking for inclusion in the Congress manifesto a Constitutional provision barring naturalised citizens from holding the three highest posts of President, Vice-President and Prime Minister. For Sonia Gandhi, the revolt constitutes the gravest challenge to her political career.

Her image of one who does not hanker after power had suffered a dent when she had tried in vain to form a government last month. Since it appears that prime ministership is her foremost politicalobjective, she is unlikely to renounce her claim to the top slot, especially given the bankruptcy of leadership that prevails in the party, with its large number of yes-men both within and without the CWC urging her to stay put at the helm. She is likely to follow in the footsteps of her late mother-in-law who, faced with a similar revolt in the early seventies, threw her detractors out of the party and fought the elections on her own terms. However, the situation is not the same now; the issues on which the Syndicate ganged up against Indira Gandhi were quite different.

Whatever the Maratha leader and friends do -- whether they cobble together a viable Third Front or team up with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance or remain sulking in the Congress -- the Congress under Sonia Gandhi cannot escape its political opponents casting aspersions on her leadership. For the average Congress leader, who is so used to singing hosannas to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, it is almost impossible to look beyond thedynasty.

By squandering the opportunity to rid themselves of the dynasty in the past, party workers have played into the hands of Sonia Gandhi. They have therefore only themselves to blame if, in the coming elections, they have to defend their leader against charges of utter incompetence. This is the price of overdependence on dynastic charisma for winning elections.