You are busy on the campaign trail already...in Solapur?

Yes, I went to Solapur to be with my friend and long-time colleague Sushil Kumar Shinde at the time of his nomination. Actually, I was in Delhi the day before, landed at Mumbai and proceeded to Solapur. I wanted to bewith him. I was at a few meetings too.

The big question: Why are you back in the election fray this time though the reason you extended for staying away last two times is still valid? Sanjay's name has not yet been cleared, isn't it?

I said so at that time and I stand by it. But it wasn't the only reason for opting out of elections last two times. I had no confidence in the party leadership at that time. If I had stood for elections, I would have been given a very rough time.

Who are you referring to and what does this mean?

I don't want to take names now but it shouldn't be difficult to know the person or persons I am talking about. It all started at a party meeting after the assembly election in 1995 which the Congress lost badly. It was a matter of regret for all of us and I was quite free and open in expressing my opinion about the leadership then...about how the leadership at that time could have avoided the debacle. Since then, I was harassed and literally tortured within theparty. What was the point in fighting elections on the party ticket...people would have worked from within to defeat me.

Is that why you approached Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray to help Sanjay get released? Was it correct for you to have done so?

The Sena-BJP alliance was in power and people always approach those in power. I went to Mr Thackeray as I went to many others in the Congress itself. I had met Congress leaders and chief ministers, the Governor of Maharashtra, even Atal Bihari Vajpayee who was then the leader of Opposition. A father would do this for his son. But nobody lifted a finger to help us out and all I wanted was that he should not be behind bars unnecessarily; I wasn't asking for the case to be withdrawn. Let the law take its own course. When the Sena-BJP was sworn in here, I decided to approach Mr Thackeray and I am grateful for what he did.

What does that say about your ideological shift and are you comfortable with it?

I want to make this very clear: it did not meana change in my beliefs or ideology or my commitment to the Congress. All that Mr Thackeray did was to state unequivocally that Mr and Mrs Dutt have been great nationalists and patriots. That sent it own signals to the system because Sanjay was being accused of anti-national activities. I also want to make this clear: there was no barter at all. It wasn't as if I did or promised to do something for him. If there was any barter involved, I wouldn't have agreed to meet him at all.

But haven't people, at least in your constituency, been asking you this question now?

People's reaction has been most enthusiastic even since I was nominated. People of this area know me because irrespective of elections and politics, they know that I have stood by them all these years. Whatever their problems I have been there and they appreciate that. It has registered in their minds; that's why standing for elections after a break doesn't seem difficult to me at all. What has changed is the election paraphernalia which ismuch less. But we have more of the media and more emphasis on performances.

Now that it isn't a straight fight between the Congress and the Sena-BJP, doesn't it make the situation more difficult for you? The NCP candidate is likely to take away some of your vote and make it easier for the alliance.

That is the assessment on the table, but the situation on the ground is very different. I know the NCP candidate very well and what he can do. It's nearly impossible that the secular vote will split in this constituency and be lured away by the NCP. It comes down to the candidate and as I said, I still enjoy a good credibility with all sections of my electorate including the minorities. They remember that I was out there during the riots.

Finally, how do you plan to take on Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin issue which the middle and upper-middle classes are talking about?

It's not an issue. In our dharma, a woman becomes all her husband is about once she is married to him; her name, her gotra,everything changes. Mrs Gandhi is as much Indian today as any woman is. With all apologies to the BJP, they create gimmicks as they don't have issues to talk about.