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Sonia Gandhi

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For the scientist, see Sonia Gandhi (scientist).

Sonia Gandhi
Gandhi in 2014
Parliamentary Chair of the Indian National Congress
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 1999
Preceded bySharad Pawar
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 April 2024 (2024-04-03)
Preceded byManmohan Singh
ConstituencyRajasthan
President of the Indian National Congress
Interim
In office
10 August 2019 (2019-08-10) – 26 October 2022 (2022-10-26)
Preceded byRahul Gandhi
Succeeded byMallikarjun Kharge
In office
14 March 1998 (1998-03-14) – 16 December 2017 (2017-12-16)
Vice PresidentRahul Gandhi (from 2013)
Preceded bySitaram Kesri
Succeeded byRahul Gandhi
Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance
In office
6 May 2004 (2004-05-06) – 18 July 2023 (2023-07-18)
Preceded byoffice established
Succeeded byoffice abolished
Chairperson of the National Advisory Council
In office
29 March 2010 – 25 May 2014
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byoffice established
Succeeded byoffice abolished
In office
4 June 2004 – 23 March 2006
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byoffice established
Succeeded byoffice abolished
10th Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha
In office
13 October 1999 – 6 February 2004
Preceded bySharad Pawar
Succeeded byL. K. Advani
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
17 May 2004 – 2 April 2024
Preceded bySatish Sharma
Succeeded byRahul Gandhi
ConstituencyRae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh
In office
10 October 1999 – 17 May 2004
Preceded bySanjay Singh
Succeeded byRahul Gandhi
ConstituencyAmethi, Uttar Pradesh
Spouse of the Prime Minister of India
In role
31 October 1984 – 2 December 1989
Prime MinisterRajiv Gandhi
Preceded byGayatri Devi
Succeeded bySita Kumari Singh
Personal details
Born (1946-12-09) 9 December 1946 (age 78)
Lusiana, Veneto, Italy
CitizenshipItaly (1946–1983)
India (1983–present)
Political partyIndian National Congress
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1968; died 1991)​
Children
RelativesSee Nehru–Gandhi family
Residence(s)12, Tughlaq Lane, New Delhi, Delhi, India
Alma materBell Educational Trust
OccupationPolitician
Signature

Sonia Gandhi (Hindi: [ˈsoːnɪjaː ˈɡaːndʱiː], Italian: [ˈsɔːnja ˈɡandi]; née Maino [ˈmaino]; born 9 December 1946) is an Indian politician. She is the longest-serving president of the Indian National Congress, a liberal political party, which has governed India for most of its post-independence history. She took over as the party leader in 1998, seven years after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, her husband and a former Prime Minister of India, and remained in office until 2017 after serving for twenty-two years.[a] She returned to the post in 2019 and remained the President for another three years.

Born in a small village near Vicenza, Italy, Gandhi was raised in a Roman Catholic family. After completing her primary education at local schools, she moved for language classes to Cambridge, England, where she met Rajiv Gandhi, and later married him in 1968. She then moved to India and started living with her mother-in-law, the then-Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, at the latter's New Delhi residence. Sonia Gandhi, however, kept away from the public sphere, even during the years of her husband's premiership.

Following her husband's assassination, Gandhi was invited by Congress leaders to lead the party, but she declined. She agreed to join politics in 1997 after much pleading from the party; the following year, she was nominated for party president.[b] Under her leadership, the Congress went on to form the government post the 2004 elections in coalition with other centre-left political parties. Gandhi has since been credited for being instrumental in formulating the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), which was re-elected to power in 2009. Gandhi declined the premiership following the 2004 victory; she instead led the ruling alliance and the National Advisory Council.[c]

Over the course of her career, Gandhi presided over the advisory councils credited for the formation and subsequent implementation of such rights-based development and welfare schemes as the Right to Information, Food Security Bill, and MGNREGA, as she drew criticism related to the National Herald case. Her foreign birth has also been a subject of much debate and controversy.[d] Gandhi's active participation in politics began to reduce during the latter half of the UPA government's second term owing to health concerns. She stepped down as the Congress president in December 2017 but returned to lead the party in August 2019. Although she has not held any public office in the government of India, Gandhi has been widely described as one of the most powerful politicians in the country, and is often listed among the most powerful women in the world.[e]

Early life

Sonia Gandhi's birthplace, 31, Contrada Maini (Maini street), Lusiana, Italy (the house on the right)

Sonia Maino was born on 9 December 1946 to Stefano and Paola Maino in Lusiana (in Maini street),[19] a historically Cimbrian-speaking village about 35 km from Vicenza in Veneto, Italy.[20][21] She was one of three siblings: Sonia, Nadia and Anoushka,[22] raised in a traditional Roman Catholic Christian family.[19] Sonia spent her adolescence in Orbassano, a town near Turin. She attained primary education attending the local Catholic schools; one of her early teachers described her as "a diligent little girl, [who] studied as much as was necessary".[19]

Stefano, who was a building mason, established a small construction business in Orbassano.[22] He had fought against the Soviet military alongside Hitler's Wehrmacht on the eastern front in World War II, was a loyal supporter of Benito Mussolini and Italy's National Fascist Party. The family house had leather bound books on writings and speeches of Mussolini.[22] Stefano had named Sonia and her elder sister Nadia in the memory of the Italian participation in the Eastern Front.[19] He died in 1983.[23] Gandhi has two sisters who still reside in Orbassano.[24]

Gandhi completed her schooling at the age of 13; her final report card read: "intelligent, diligent, committed [...] would succeed well at the high school for teachers". She aspired to become a flight attendant.[19] In 1964, she went to study English at the Bell Educational Trust's language school in the city of Cambridge. The following year, she met Rajiv Gandhi at the Varsity Restaurant, where she was working as a part-time waitress, while he was enrolled for an engineering degree in the Trinity College at the University of Cambridge.[25][26] In this context, the Times, London reported, "Mrs Gandhi was an 18-year-old student at a small language college in Cambridge in 1965, [...] when she met a handsome young engineering student".[27] The couple married in 1968, in a Hindu ceremony, following which she moved into the house of her mother-in-law and then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.[28][8]

The couple had two children, Rahul Gandhi (born 1970) and Priyanka Vadra (born 1972). Despite belonging to the influential Nehru family, Sonia and Rajiv avoided all involvement in politics. Rajiv worked as an airline pilot while Sonia took care of her family. She spent considerable amount of time with her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi; she recalled her experience in a 1985 interview with the Hindi-language magazine Dharmyug, "She [Indira] showered me with all her affection and love".[29] Soon after the latter's ousting from office in 1977 in the aftermath of the Indian Emergency, the Rajiv family contemplated moving abroad for a short time.[30] When Rajiv entered politics in 1982 after the death of his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi in a plane crash on 23 June 1980, Sonia continued to focus on her family and avoided all contact with the public.[31]

Political career

Rajiv Gandhi's premiership (1984–1990)

40th president of the United States Ronald Reagan, Sonia Gandhi, First Lady Nancy Reagan and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, during a state dinner for Prime Minister Gandhi. June 1985

Sonia Gandhi's involvement with Indian public life began after the assassination of her mother-in-law and her husband's election as prime minister. As the prime minister's wife she acted as his official hostess and also accompanied him on a number of state visits.[32]

In 1984, she actively campaigned against her husband's sister-in-law Maneka Gandhi who was running against Rajiv in Amethi. At the end of Rajiv Gandhi's five years in office, the Bofors scandal broke out. Ottavio Quattrocchi, an Italian businessman believed to be involved, was said to be a friend of Sonia Gandhi, having access to the Prime Minister's official residence.[33] The BJP has alleged that she appeared on the voters' list in New Delhi prior to obtaining Indian citizenship in April 1983, in contravention of Indian law.[34][35]

Former senior Congress leader and former President of India Pranab Mukherjee said that she surrendered her Italian passport to the Italian Embassy on 27 April 1983.[36] Italian nationality law did not permit dual nationality until 1992. So, by acquiring Indian citizenship on 30 April 1983,[37][38] she would automatically have lost Italian citizenship.[39]

Active politics and Congress President (1991–1998)

After Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991 and Sonia Gandhi refused[40] to succeed him as the Congress president and prime minister, the party settled on the choice of P. V. Narasimha Rao who subsequently became Prime Minister after winning elections that year. Over the next few years, however, the Congress fortunes continued to dwindle and it lost the 1996 elections. Several senior leaders such as Madhavrao Sindhia, Rajesh Pilot, Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Arjun Singh, Mamata Banerjee, G. K. Moopanar, P. Chidambaram and Jayanthi Natarajan were in open revolt against incumbent President Sitaram Kesri and many of whom quit the party, splitting the Congress into many factions.[41]

In an effort to revive the party's sagging fortunes, she joined the Congress Party as a primary member in the Calcutta Plenary Session in 1997 and became party leader in 1998.[7][42]

In May 1999, three senior leaders of the party (Sharad Pawar, P. A. Sangma, and Tariq Anwar) challenged her right to try to become India's Prime Minister because of her foreign origins. In response, she offered to resign as party leader, resulting in an outpouring of support and the expulsion from the party of the three rebels who went on to form the Nationalist Congress Party.[43][44]

Within 62 days of joining as a primary member, she was offered the party President post which she accepted.[45]

She contested Lok Sabha elections from Bellary, Karnataka and Amethi, Uttar Pradesh in 1999. She won both seats but chose to represent Amethi.[46] In Bellary, she had defeated veteran BJP leader, Sushma Swaraj.[47][48]

Leader of the Opposition (1999–2003)

Sonia Gandhi as leader of opposition meeting with 42nd president of the United States Bill Clinton in 2000.

She was elected the Leader of the Opposition of the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999.[49]

When the BJP-led NDA formed a government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, she took the office of the Leader of the Opposition. In 2000, she defeated Jitendra Prasada by a huge margin of 97% in the Congress President Election.[50] She had been repeatedly selected for the position without any election being held. As Leader of the Opposition, she called a no-confidence motion against the NDA government led by Vajpayee in 2003.[51]

Electoral success and NAC chairmanship (2004–2014)

Sonia Gandhi as NAC Chair meeting with 43rd President of the United States George W. Bush in 2006

In the 2004 general elections, Gandhi launched a nationwide campaign, crisscrossing the country on the Aam Aadmi (ordinary man) slogan in contrast to the 'India Shining' slogan of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alliance. She countered the BJP asking "Who is India Shining for?". In the election, she was re-elected by a 200,000-vote margin over her nearest rival, in the Rae Bareli.[52] Following the unexpected defeat of the NDA, she was widely expected to be the next Prime Minister of India. On 16 May, she was unanimously chosen to lead a coalition government of 15 parties supported by the left, and it was subsequently named as United Progressive Alliance (UPA).[53]

The defeated NDA protested once again about her 'foreign origin' and senior NDA leader Sushma Swaraj threatened to shave her head and "sleep on the ground", among other things, should Sonia become prime minister.[14]

The NDA claimed that there were legal reasons that barred her from the Prime Minister's post.[54]

They pointed, in particular, to Section 5 of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1955, which they claimed implied 'reciprocity'. This was contested by others[35] and eventually the suits were dismissed by the Supreme Court of India.[55]

A few days after the election, Gandhi recommended Manmohan Singh as her choice as prime minister, which the party leaders accepted. Her supporters compared it to the old Indian tradition of renunciation,[56] while her opponents attacked it as a political stunt.[57]

Sonia Gandhi with 13th Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur at an Iftar party in New Delhi in 2010

On 23 March 2006, Gandhi announced her resignation from the Lok Sabha and also as chairperson of the National Advisory Council under the office-of-profit controversy and the speculation that the government was planning to bring an ordinance to exempt the post of chairperson of National Advisory Council from the purview of office of profit.[58] She was re-elected from her constituency Rae Bareli in May 2006 by a margin of over 400,000 votes.[59][60]

As chairperson of the National Advisory Committee and the UPA, she played an important role in making the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Right to Information Act into law.[61][62]

She addressed the United Nations on 2 October 2007, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary which is observed as the international day of non-violence after a UN resolution passed on 15 July 2007.[63]

Under her leadership, the Congress-led UPA won a decisive majority in the 2009 general elections with Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister.[64] The Congress itself won 206 Lok Sabha seats, which was then the highest total by any party since 1991.[65] She was re-elected to a third term as a member of parliament representing Rae Bareli.[66]

In 2013, Gandhi became the first person to serve as Congress President for 15 years consecutively.[67] In the same year, Gandhi condemned the Supreme Court judgement supporting Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and backed LGBT rights.[68]

2014–present

In the 2014 general election, she held her seat in Rae Bareli.[69] However, the Indian National Congress and the Congress-led UPA electoral alliance suffered their worst result in a general election ever, winning only 44 and 59 seats respectively.[70][71][72]

Sonia Gandhi with King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema in 2014.

When Rahul Gandhi was expected to take over as Congress president, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury picked Sonia over Rahul, calling her the "glue that binds the opposition"[73] during an interview November 2017. Rahul took over as the 49th Congress president on 16 December 2017.[74][75]

Gandhi returned to active politics for the Indian National Congress' campaign for the 2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election. Having stayed away from campaigning for elections since 2016, Gandhi addressed a rally at Bijapur, which comprised five legislative assembly constituencies; while Congress emerged as the second largest party in the election with 78 seats behind the BJP, the former won four or the five assembly seats from Bijapur.[76][77] Gandhi also played an active role in orchestrating a post-poll alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular).[78]

Rahul Gandhi, taking responsibility for Congress party's second consecutive loss in general elections held in 2019, resigned from the post of President on 25 May. Following the resignation, party leaders began deliberations for a suitable candidate to replace him. The Congress Working Committee met on 10 August to take a final call on the matter and passed a resolution asking Sonia Gandhi to take over as interim president until a consensus candidate could be picked.[79][80]

Following her appointment, Gandhi undertook a restructuring of the Congress' state units and appointed Kumari Selja and Eknath Gaikwad as the presidents of the party's Haryana and Mumbai units. Several other changes were also made in the party's organisational units in states slated for elections including Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand.[81][82]

In February 2020, Gandhi held a press conference where she demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah should resign for failing to stop the North East Delhi riots. She asked for the deployment of an adequate number of security forces.[83] In 2022, it was reported that Sonia Gandhi supported Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot for Congress president to lead in the next Indian general election.[84] But, Gehlot did not contest the election and Gandhi loyalist Mallikarjun Kharge elected as the new Congress president, defeating non-loyalist Shashi Tharoor.

Entry to Rajya Sabha

In February 2024, Sonia Gandhi opted out of the 2024 Indian general election citing health and age related issues.[85] Gandhi filed her nomination to contest for the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections from Rajasthan to succeed retiring MP Manmohan Singh. During the nomination filing, she was accompanied by Rahul Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot and other senior members of the party. Sonia Gandhi was elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan on 20 February 2024, and took the oath in April.[86]

Personal life

Sonia is the widow of Rajiv Gandhi, elder son of Indira Gandhi. She has two children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, who both serve as Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha.

In August 2011, she underwent successful surgery for cervical cancer[87] in the United States at Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center in New York.[88] She returned to India on 9 September after her treatment.

According to an affidavit filed during the 2014 Indian general election, Gandhi had declared assets worth ₹9.28 crore (US$1.52 million), with ₹2.81 crore (US$460,000) in movable and ₹6.47 crore (US$1.06 million) in immovable properties. This was an almost six-fold increase since her declaration in the last election in 2009; party officials attributed this to a switch from book value to market value for asset valuation.[89]

Gandhi's mother, Paola Maino, died due to an illness at her home in Italy on 27 August 2022, at the age of about 90.[90]

Electoral performances

Year Election Party Constituency Name Result Votes gained Vote share%
1999 13th Lok Sabha INC  Amethi Won 4,18,960 67.12%
Bellary Won 4,14,650 51.70%
2004 14th Lok Sabha Rae Bareli Won 390,179 66.18%
2006 Rae Bareli Won 4,74,891 80.49%
2009 15th Lok Sabha Rae Bareli Won 4,81,490 72.23%
2014 16th Lok Sabha Rae Bareli Won 5,26,434 63.80%
2019 17th Lok Sabha Rae Bareli Won 5,34,918 55.80%

Honours and recognition

Gandhi was seen as the most powerful politician of India from 2004 to 2014,[91] and variously listed among the most powerful people and women listings by magazines.[17][92]

In 2013, Sonia Gandhi was ranked 21st among world's most powerful and 9th most powerful woman by Forbes Magazine.[93]

In 2007, she was named the third most powerful woman in the world by the same magazine[94] and was ranked 6th in exclusive list in 2007.[95]

In 2010, Gandhi was ranked as the ninth most powerful person on the planet by Forbes magazine.[96][97][98] She was ranked 12 in 2012 in Forbes' powerful people list.[99][100][101]

Sonia was also named among the Time 100 most influential people in the world for 2007[102] and 2008.[103] New Statesman listed Sonia Gandhi at number 29 in their annual survey of "The World's 50 Most Influential Figures" in 2010.[104]

Year Name Awarding organisation Ref.
2008 Honorary Doctorate (Literature) University of Madras [105]
2006 Order of King Leopold Government of Belgium [106]
2006 Honorary Doctorate Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Brussels University) [106][107][108]

Bibliography

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Sources.[1][2][3][4]
  2. ^ Sources describing Gandhi's initial reluctance and eventual election.[5][6][7]
  3. ^ Sources describing Gandhi's leadership of the UPA and declining the premiership.[8][9][10][11]
  4. ^ Sources discussing the welfare schemes and controversies.[12][13][14][15]
  5. ^ Sources discussing the listing.[16][17][18]

Citations

  1. ^ "Sonia Gandhi retires as Congress president, to remain active in politics". The Indian Express. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  2. ^ Chowdhary, Neerja (16 December 2017). "As Sonia Gandhi makes way". The Indian Express. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  3. ^ Naqshbandi, Aurangzeb (16 December 2017). "Sonia Gandhi's 19 years as Congress president: From husband Rajiv's death to son Rahul's elevation". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  4. ^ Chandra, Rina (14 April 2009). "Sonia Gandhi keeps Congress hopes alive in India polls". Reuters. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  5. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (24 May 1991). "Assassination In India; Sonia Gandhi Declines Invitation To Assume Husband's Party Post". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Sonia Gandhi re-elected Congress President". Outlook. 25 March 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Sonia Gandhi Biography". Elections in India. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Profile: Sonia Gandhi". BBC News. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Fourth time in a row, Sonia Gandhi is Congress chief". The Times of India. 4 September 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  10. ^ Robinson, Simon. "India's Most Influential". Time. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Sonia: and yet so far". The Economist. 20 May 2004. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  12. ^ Roy, Aruna (15 December 2017). "Movements and governments". The Indian Express. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  13. ^ "End of the longest regency". Outlook. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  14. ^ a b Religioscope: India: politics of renunciation, traditional and modern – Analysis Archived 16 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 9 December 2011.
  15. ^ Ramaseshan, Radhika (30 August 2002). "BJP sees Gujarat ammo in Sonia origins". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 3 September 2002. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  16. ^ Manoj, CL (13 October 2017). "The Sonia Gandhi years and what Rahul Gandhi can learn". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  17. ^ a b Riedel, Bruce (24 June 2012). "Sonia Gandhi Health Mystery Sets India Leadership Adrift". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  18. ^ Richard Sandbrook; Ali Burak Güven (1 June 2014). Civilizing Globalization, Revised and Expanded Edition: A Survival Guide. SUNY Press. pp. 77–. ISBN 978-1-4384-5209-8.
  19. ^ a b c d e Schiavazzi, Vera (17 January 2005). "Sonia Gandhi: The Maino girl who kept her tryst with destiny in India". India Today. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  20. ^ "Pictures from the book-biography "The Red sari" by Javier Moro". Radio Popolare. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
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  22. ^ a b c Laiq, Jawid (23 February 1998). "Meeting Mr Maino". Outlook. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  23. ^ In Maino land Archived 8 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 23 March 2007.
  24. ^ Italy heralds 'first woman PM' Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 18 July 2007.
  25. ^ Rani Singh (13 September 2011). Sonia Gandhi: An Extraordinary Life, An Indian Destiny. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-230-34053-4.
  26. ^ Perry, Alex (17 May 2004). "The Sonia Shock". Time. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  27. ^ From waitress to world leader, Rediff, 17 May 2004
  28. ^ "News Features". Catholic Culture. 20 November 2001. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  29. ^ Hazarika, Sanjoy (23 May 1991). "Assassination In India: Woman in the News; The Tragedy's New Player; Sonia Gandhi". New York Times. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  30. ^ Ramachandran, Aarthi (2012). Decoding Rahul Gandhi. Tranquebar Press. p. 1973. ISBN 9789381626696. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  31. ^ Venkatesan, V. (5 June 1999). "Citizen Sonia". Frontline. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  32. ^ Rasheeda Bhagat. "Sonia Gandhi: Ordinary Italian to powerful Indian". Thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  33. ^ Who is Quattrocchi? Archived 23 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 23 March 2007.
  34. ^ "BJP accuses Sonia of flouting law". The Indian Express. 12 May 1999. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  35. ^ a b Venkatesan, V (June 1999). "Citizen Sonia". Frontline. 16 (12). Archived from the original on 22 April 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2011.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  36. ^ "Introduction - Chapter 01" (PDF). Shodhganga. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  37. ^ "Rakesh Singh vs Sonia Gandhi on 14 February, 2011". indiankanoon.org. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  38. ^ V. Venkatesen (29 September 2001). "A citizenship question". Frontline. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  39. ^ "Citizenship: How to lose it?". Trentini Nel Mondo. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  40. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (24 May 1991). "ASSASSINATION IN INDIA; Sonia Gandhi Declines Invitation To Assume Husband's Party Post". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  41. ^ "The Sitaram Kesri case: How dynasty trumped ethics | Latest News & Updates at". Daily News & Analysis. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  42. ^ "Sonia Gandhi re-elected Congress president, unopposed". NDTV. 3 September 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  43. ^ "From successive Lok Sabha wins to historic low: The rise and fall of Congress under Sonia, Rahul Gandhi". The Times of India. 17 October 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  44. ^ "India's Congress Party rallies for Sonia Gandhi". CNN. 17 May 1999. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  45. ^ "Sonia Gandhi Biography – about, family and professional history, political journey and awards won". Elections.in. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  46. ^ "A Congress bastion since 1952". The Hindu. 28 February 2004. Archived from the original on 4 April 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  47. ^ "General election 1999, Candidate wise result". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  48. ^ "Ballari saw Sonia's LS debut, now a rally here to mark 1,000 km of Rahul Yatra". 13 October 2022.
  49. ^ "Detailed Profile – Smt. Sonia Gandhi – Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha)". Archive.india.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  50. ^ "Congress prez poll: When Jitendra Prasada challenged Sonia Gandhi and lost". Business Standard India. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  51. ^ "LS to witness 26th no-confidence motion in its history". The Times of India. 17 August 2003. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  52. ^ "Statistical Report on General Elections, 2004 to the 14th Lok Sabha" (PDF). ECI. p. 308. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  53. ^ Bhattacharya, Tathagata (16 August 2019). "Sonia Gandhi: the best bet". National Herald. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  54. ^ Pioneer News Service. "Whose inner voice?". CMYK Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. Archived from the original on 9 April 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  55. ^ "Sonia is Indian, rules SC". The Times of India. 13 September 2001. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  56. ^ "Indian press lauds Gandhi decision". BBC. 19 May 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
  57. ^ "Profile: Sonia Gandhi". BBC. 23 March 2006. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
  58. ^ "'Hurt' Sonia quits as MP, chairperson of NAC". Retrieved 23 March 2006.
  59. ^ "Rae Bareli Lok Sabha". Elections.in. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  60. ^ "Sonia strides to victory with record margin". Rediff. 11 May 2006.
  61. ^ Employment Bill not a populist measure: Sonia Archived 7 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 13 July 2007.
  62. ^ After RTI success, it's right to work Archived 7 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 13 July 2007.
  63. ^ "Sonia Gandhi raises disarmament issue at UN meet". The Times of India. 2 October 2007. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
  64. ^ "India's new government sworn in". BBC News. 22 May 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  65. ^ "Hail to the chief: Sonia spurs Cong to new heights". Hindustan Times. 11 March 2013. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  66. ^ "List of Winning candidates Final" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 8. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  67. ^ "Sonia Gandhi completes 15 years as Congress president". Livemint. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  68. ^ "Disappointed over court ruling on gay rights: Sonia Gandhi". Business Standard India. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  69. ^ "Sonia Gandhi wins by over 3.52 lakh votes". The Indian Express. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  70. ^ "After its worst defeat ever in Lok Sabha elections, what can Congress do to recover?". Daily News & Analysis. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  71. ^ "The worst defeat: Where the Congress went wrong". IBN Live. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  72. ^ "Results". NDTV. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  73. ^ "Sonia glue that keeps Oppn united; Rahul Gandhi will break it, Sitaram Yechury forecasts doom and gloom for BJP rivals". Financial Express. 12 November 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  74. ^ "Rahul Gandhi takes over as Congress president". 16 December 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  75. ^ "Rahul Gandhi Takes Over As Congress Chief; New Start, Say Party Leaders". NDTV. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  76. ^ "Sonia Gandhi hits campaign trail, crosses swords with PM Modi in Karnataka". Livemint. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  77. ^ "Sonia Gandhi meeting had more strike rate". Deccan Chronicle. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
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Further reading

  • S. R. et al. Vakshi (1998) Sonia Gandhi, The President of AICC South Asia Books. ISBN 81-7024-988-0
  • Rupa Chaterjee (1999) Sonia Gandhi: The Lady in Shadow Butala. ISBN 81-87277-02-5
  • C. Rupa, Rupa Chaterjee (2000) Sonia Mystique South Asia Books. ISBN 81-85870-24-1
  • Moro, Javier "El sari rojo" (Ed. Seix Barral, 2008) "Il sari rosso" (Il Saggiatore, 2009)
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Party political offices
Preceded by President of the Indian National Congress
1998–2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the Indian National Congress
2019–2022 		Succeeded by
New office Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance
2004–2023 		Succeeded by
Office abolished
Rajya Sabha
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Rajasthan
2024–present 		Incumbent
Lok Sabha
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Amethi
1999–2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Rae Bareli
2004–2024 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition
1998–2004 		Succeeded by
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