Margaret Alva on how AK Antony got her shunted out of Congress

Needless to say, we lost the elections in Karnataka [Assembly elections 2008] — a state we would have won had tickets been properly distributed. But I kept quiet.

Suddenly, one evening, journalists barged into my sitting room with a list of candidates of some other states. They pointed out that family members of several leaders had been included.

I reacted sharply: "Different rules exist for different people!" I said.

On being questioned further, I said, "That is how we lost Karnataka! We have complaints that tickets were sold at the local level. As for sons and daughters, Jaffer Sharief’s grandson and my son are not smugglers or terrorists — why were they kept out?"

In no time, the channels were buzzing. My comments had made headlines! I refused to say anything more, nor did I deny the claims I had made. In the meantime, I went away for three days to attend a family function in Bangalore.

On my return to Delhi, I met Rahul [Gandhi]. He told me not to take any action hastily, and urged me not to leave Delhi. I was then called by AK Antony, who was defence minister, to his residence. He tried to appear kind and helpful, and asked me what had provoked my comments.

At the end of the meeting, he said that the Congress president wanted to meet me.

As I got up to leave, I was surprised to see him tag along; this made me extremely suspicious and uncomfortable.

Together we entered 10, Janpath, and saw a grave Congress president seated at her table.

I said, "I feel like a schoolgirl summoned by the principal. Are you still angry with me?"

She smiled and asked us to sit down.

"Why did you do this, Margaret?" she enquired. "And that too when elections are on?"

"I am sorry," I replied. "It was a sudden outburst. But what I said is true. I have proof — letters that reveal how much had been demanded from candidates!"

Now Antony tried to intervene. "You stay out of this," I told him, sternly.

Soniaji interrupted, "I have always stood by you, even defended you, Margaret. But this time, the pressure on me is far too much. Everyone knows you are close to me. Why did you do this? You have let me down…"

I softly said, "You brought me to the AICC. If you feel I have let you down, I will go. I need a day to finalise my letter of resignation. In fact, I have a draft ready. I will place on record all the facts that you need to know."

"No, no, please do not say anything that will hurt the leader!" Antony pleaded.

"You stay out of this, Mr Antony," I said, firmly. "This is between Soniaji and me. You have no place in our relationship!"

Soniaji put her hand on mine and said, "Calm down. You will have to go for now, but I promise I will bring you back."

I thanked her, apologised once again, and left my "escort" behind. I went home, redrafted my letter of resignation and sent it to the Congress president.

Today, for the first time, I produce this letter:

I came to learn from friends in the inner circle of the AICC that Antony, who had been asked to look into the entire controversy, had actually recommended my expulsion. While everyone else Sonia consulted ruled this out — recalling my years of unstinted service to the party — Antony’s campaign against me finally yielded results.

I know why AK Antony pursued my removal with such determination.

Back in 2004, when he had been the chief minister of Kerala, Soniaji was very upset about the defeat of the Congress in the state in the Parliamentary elections. All Congress candidates had lost; the only seat won was by an Indian Union Muslim League candidate as part of the UPA.

She sent RL Bhatia and me to Kerala as observers to meet MLAs and party leaders and produce a factual report on what went wrong. We met everyone individually over two days and prepared a brief but clear report for the Congress president.

The almost unanimous demand was for a change in leadership.

The complaint was that AK Antony cared only about his image, to the exclusion of all else. He neglected the party.

Soniaji marked the report with: "For immediate follow up".

Then she deputed Pranab Mukherjee, Ahmed Patel and me to take the next steps in the state. We went.

AK Antony was replaced by Oommen Chandy.

Antony never forgave me for this (even though the decision was Soniaji’s) and used every opportunity he could to get even.