Opinion: Should Sharad Pawar Replace Sonia Gandhi As UPA Boss?

An interesting debate has raised its head this week. According to media reports, the anti-BJP camp is debating whether Sonia Gandhi can be replaced by Sharad Pawar as the chairperson of the UPA. With equally interesting ease, the Shiv Sena, which is running the government in Maharashtra with Pawar's party and the Congress too has endorsed his candidature. Pawar has outright rejected the proposal, but the debate goes on.

There are three reasons why this debate is important.

One, Sonia Gandhi is ill, and should not be burdened with the extra pressure of running the UPA.

Two, even before her illness, she had lost her touch of keeping allies in good humour and leading a coalition.