Those who have been telling her that she can be another Indira did her a singular disservice. One year after she came into public life they wanted her to act like the Indira Gandhi of 1971-72 (and not of 1967).

It is one thing for Sonia to walk briskly like Indira Gandhi used to do. Or to wave like her ma-in-law. Or dress like her. Like Mrs Gandhi, Sonia too has shown the knack of wearing the clothes from a particular state when she goes there in order to identify with the people there.

Indira Gandhi could afford to have senior party leaders line up and wait with folded hands merely to see her aides. Sonia Gandhi could not for the simple reason that she was still testing the political waters and had to geta firm grip over the party she headed. What is more, the Congress of 1971 is not the Congress of 1999. For seven long years Congressmen had breathed a different air. Today, on the threshold of a new millennium, India is not what it was 25 years ago. The country has entered the coalition era. Power has devolved further, new interests groups have emerged. No doubt, Indira Gandhi had faced the rout of Congress governments from Amritsar to Calcutta in 1967 and managed to demolish the syndicate of state bosses who challenged her. But even Indira Gandhi took three yea-rs to get her bearings before striking. She had had a long innings in politics before her pri-me ministership. She has been brought up on Congress politics, from her childhood in Anand Bhavan to being her father's hostess to being the Congress President for a spell.

The Sonia story has been very different even though she may have absorbed a great deal in the home of her mother-in-law and alongside her husband. It was clear from the beginning thatSonia's foreign origins would be her Achilles heel. For that reason she was expected to move more cautiously, mindful of the sensitivities of party leaders and this she had done till very recently. Scratch the surface and privately a very large number of CWC leaders feel like Pawar, Sangma and Tariq, but they cannot act because they do not have the same options.

Sonia became a prisoner of a coterie after the fall of the Vajpayee government and began relying on it exclusively when it came to the question of forming an alternative government. She gave up her earlier approach of consulting a wide range of leaders before taking any decision, converting what was her shortcoming, her lack of knowledge abo-ut the party and the co-untry into an advanta-ge. But her managers failed to sniff out the revolt let alone do the necessary damage control. Sangma had been expressing his views on the nationality question pr- ivately -- quite widely and for many weeks.

Her political skills would have shown up had she takenalong Sharad Pawar, who has eyed the prime ministerial position, until her leadership of the party had firmed up and she had acquired more legitimacy as a popular leader. To have meddled with him in his home state when she did was unnecessary, for he was in no position to challenge her leadership and it may well have hastened his moves. Indira Gandhi beheaded state bosses politically when she was strong enough to take them on.

By the latest round of resignation-sycophancy, the coterie has done her another disservice. They have made it that much more difficult for her to take back her resignation without denting her image. The Congress may get back its leader but she would be seen having orchestrated the drama, and this will provide more grist to the opposition mill. The Congress party used to drum up support for Indira Gandhi but senior leaders were not roughed up and terrorised by goons for holding a particular view as Sitaram Kesri and Jitendra Prasada were.

The recent events have damaged the Congressparty. The weakening of the 114-year-old organisation is nothing to be happy about when politics is getting increasingly fractured. If Sonia Gandhi takes back her resignation, nationality will become an issue with a bang, and her resignation will be seen only as a gimmick. If she holds firm to her desire to quit as Congress chief, the party, pitted against Vajpayee on the other side, would be without a charismatic leader with elections only three months away.

Let there be no doubt that the new outfit being contemplated by Messrs Pawar, Sangma and Tariq will damage the Cong-ress more than it does the BJP.

Given the recent bitter history, it is not likely to join hands with the Congress if the coming elections throws up another hung Parli-ament which seems to be on the cards. Even though it is early days yet, the foreigner issue will mean advantage BJP.

When she entered public life, Sonia Gandhi's most important contribution was to unite the Congress. Today the party is splintering and she is the causeof it. Sonia could have played a historic role in reviving the Congress -- and been the power behind the throne if she had said that she was not interested in prime ministership. Otherwise she should have moved slowly, more cautiously, more democratically. She should have been more like Sonia and less like Indira.