Dear friends:

Congress party has written yet another historic chapter in its glorious saga spanning 115 years. The election of Smt. Sonia Gandhi as President of the largest democratic party in the world marks beginning of a new era. The near total vote she polled in an electoral college of 7848 delegates proves beyond doubt that the entire party is solidly behind her. The voters hailing from every nook and corner of the nation transcending religion, caste, creed and class have given their final verdict that she is our leader.

The result of the Presidential election was a foregone conclusion even at the outset. Yet, Smt. Sonia Gandhi herself welcomed the contest for Shri Jitendra Prasada, her own colleague and comrade, had the fundamental right to contest. As both the contenders had said it has not a clash of two personalities, but a referendum on what they stood for. If some sections found this amusing it was only because an open contest is unthinkable in other parties. It is common knowledge how the President is "chosen" in other parties which style themselves as democratic and as far as those who do not fully subscribe to parliamentary democracy, less said the better. The Congress party always tried for a consensus and when that was not possible it was never forced or manipulated and opted for a contest. This was not the first time a contest took place. It has happened several times in the past. But what is truly remarkable in the Congress party is that even when the election is fought vigorously, the verdict is respected by the winner and the loser gracefully and they worked as a team afterwards. The rank and file of the party deserve commendation for the discipline with which they went through the campaign. The few discordant notes that were struck were too insignificant to be taken seriously in a massive election process that it was. The chairman of the Central Election Authority, Shri Ram Niwas Mirdha, has conducted himself and the election with commendable competence, fairness and dignity. The entire poll exercise has, as expected, enlivened and galvanised the party giving it a new hope, clarity and a new sense of direction..

Now that the party has chosen Smt. Sonia Gandhi in a regular election as its unquestioned leader, it is time to look forward and formulate strategies at the earliest and play its legitimate role to fulfil its obligation to the people of India. First and foremost task is to recognise the problem facing the country. As Smt. Sonia Gandhi had said while presenting the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration to Prof.. Satish Dhawan, the biggest and most serious threat facing the nation is the "alternative interpretation" of nationhood. She said " it is, therefore, incumbent on all of us to relentlessly confront the alternative interpretations of our nationhood because the concept is more fiercely under challenge today than at any time in the past half century." While certain influential political elements propagating this new thesis at national level, within the country fissiparous tendencies spreading all over even as divisive forces are striking roots in different parts of the country. India as a nation-state is under siege. These dangers are looming large essentially because the political system is becoming increasingly weak and loose. The Khichri Coalition at the Centre has become the main source of political instability. With a strong and visionary force like the Congress party out of power at the Centre and the ruling coalition unable to govern, the political structure is itself under severe strain. If the situation continues, the hard won freedom can be in jeopardy. The Congress party cannot allow this to happen. It has a duty to protect and preserve the freedom it has won for the country, whatever be the cost.

Towards this end the party must close ranks setting aside differences and acting in unison. Efforts also must be made to forge alliance with like minded parties, groups and elements. The Congress can do it emulating Gandhiji who, during the freedom movement, brought diverse forces, but with one aim, on a single platform. The task before the nation is indeed complex and daunting. The party must simultaneously formulate concrete and pragmatic socio-economic strategies for the uplift of the millions of the less privileged who have waited for too long for their share of the fruits of progress. Smt. Sonia Gandhi has the mandate to deliver this historic justice.