Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love was released on Tuesday, with N Ram saying its publication was not planned around the 2029 Lok Sabha election despite the book containing several political references that could become relevant to the electoral debate.

In an interview, N Ram, former Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, said political issues emerged naturally as part of Sonia Gandhi’s narration. He said the memoir was primarily an effort by the former Congress president to tell her own story and portray her family as people she knew and loved.

Why Sonia Gandhi’s memoir was released now

According to N Ram, Sonia Gandhi began jotting down material for the memoir around 10 years ago. He said that although the writing process had periods when she was unable to continue, she devoted the last five years to the project.

He said the timing was driven by her desire to tell her own story after years of others writing about her and her family.

Sonia Gandhi has described the memoir as a personal account rather than a political book. In a statement ahead of its release, she said she wanted to portray her family honestly and share what she had witnessed during more than five decades in India.

Political issues find space in the book

N Ram said the memoir does contain political material that could have a bearing on the 2029 elections.

He specifically referred to Sonia Gandhi’s comments about the BJP and the RSS, concerns about people being restless, allegations of “vote stealing” and her criticism concerning institutions. He also pointed to her references to the Election Commission of India.

However, N Ram said these issues appearing in the book should not be interpreted as evidence that it was deliberately timed for the 2029 elections.

He argued that the 2029 election is still some distance away and said that if the memoir had been intended specifically for the election, its release could have been delayed by another couple of years.

Sonia Gandhi’s own account of the memoir

Sonia Gandhi has said the book emerged from her wish to speak about her own experiences after remaining largely private for much of her life.

The memoir traces her journey from Italy to India, her relationship with Rajiv Gandhi and the Nehru-Gandhi family, the personal losses that shaped her life and her eventual entry into politics. It also covers important political moments, including her decision not to become prime minister after the Congress-led alliance won the 2004 election.

N Ram said Sonia Gandhi had previously discussed the idea of telling her story and had maintained that others had spent decades telling her story, making her feel it was now her turn to do so.

He said the memoir therefore came from a desire to tell her own version of her life rather than from an immediate electoral strategy.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has stepped up the political attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over an alleged drinking habit, days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made a similar allegation at a rally in Sangrur.

Saini appealed to people in Punjab to help Mann give up alcohol while referring to the state’s ongoing battle against drug abuse.

“Mann sahab ki daaroo chhurwao, tabhi nasha khatam ho sakta hai,” Saini said, according to the report. The remark translates to an appeal to help Mann quit drinking, linking the comment to the broader issue of addiction in Punjab.

Rahul Gandhi’s earlier allegation against Mann

The latest political exchange follows remarks made by Rahul Gandhi at a Congress rally in Sangrur on November 4.

Recalling his time in Parliament with Bhagwant Mann, Gandhi alleged that he could smell alcohol on Mann’s breath even at around 11 am. Gandhi, however, said that drinking was Mann’s personal matter.

Gandhi’s argument was that the issue becomes relevant because the Punjab government is expected to lead the fight against substance abuse.

Saini backs Rahul Gandhi’s remarks

Saini had earlier supported Gandhi’s comments, describing them as “absolutely true” and recalling that the two politicians had sat together in the Lok Sabha when they were part of the INDIA alliance.

His latest remarks have extended the political criticism of Mann, bringing the Haryana Chief Minister into the controversy surrounding the Punjab Chief Minister’s alleged drinking habit.

AAP calls remarks a personal attack

The Aam Aadmi Party has rejected the criticism directed at Mann and described Rahul Gandhi’s remarks as a “below-the-belt” personal attack.

AAP also accused the Congress and BJP of joining hands to target the Punjab Chief Minister.

The controversy comes ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election and has added a personal dimension to the opposition’s wider criticism of the AAP government’s handling of drugs and law and order in the state.

It is important to note that the drinking-related statements in the political controversy are allegations made by political opponents and should not be presented as independently established facts.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has described her interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as extremely limited, saying they have had “practically no real contact” despite their long political rivalry.

In her memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love, released on Tuesday, Gandhi writes that she and Modi generally meet only at semi-official gatherings, including occasions when political leaders gather in the Speaker’s chamber.

She says their encounters are usually limited to a formal greeting.

According to Gandhi’s account, when Modi comes face-to-face with her, the two exchange a formal “namaste”. She then writes that he “tends to look away, avoiding eye contact”.

Sonia Gandhi describes ideological differences

Gandhi also says that her differences with Modi extend beyond their political rivalry and reflect contrasting ideas about India.

She writes that Modi was fighting for his vision of India, while she stood for an India based on inclusiveness, secularism and social justice. She described the differences as ideological rather than personal.

At the same time, Gandhi acknowledges aspects of Modi’s political journey that she says she could relate to. She writes that he had worked his way to power within the RSS from an underprivileged world.

What Sonia Gandhi says about their conversations

Gandhi says that apart from brief exchanges, she and Modi have not really conversed. She adds that they have exchanged formal birthday and New Year greetings over the years.

She also recalls occasions when Modi asked about her wellbeing after she returned from hospital, to which she responded politely.

The memoir also contains Gandhi’s broader reflections on Modi’s politics, the RSS and his criticism of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. These are presented as Gandhi’s own political views and interpretations in the book.

About Sonia Gandhi’s memoir

Belonging: A Journey of Love is Sonia Gandhi’s personal memoir, covering her life in Italy and the UK, her relationship with Rajiv Gandhi, her arrival in India and her decades in public life. It also discusses her relationship with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and several major personal events in her life.