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Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi was born as Edvige Antonia Albina Maino. She is an Italian Born Indian politician and is currently the President of the Indian National Congress party, which is one of the oldest and most powerful parties in Indian politics. Sonia Gandhi was born in Italy and is the widow of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi. She belongs to the third generation of the Nehru-Gandhi family. After the assassination of her husband Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, she was invited to take over the government but despite constant prodding from the party members, Sonia Gandhi refused and publicly stayed away from politics. However she agreed to join politics in 1997 and in 1998 she was elected as the President of Congress party. Sonia Gandhi has served as the Chairperson of the then ruling United Progressive Alliance in 2004 in Loksabha. She was re elected as the President for the fourth time in September 2010 making her the longest serving president in the 125 year history of the Congress party. Sonia Gandhi is the first since Independence and fifth overall foreign born person to be a leader in the Congress party. Sonia's foreign origin has been a part of controversy in Indian politics and soon after she became the president of the Congress party in 1998, three Congress party senior leaders Sharad Pawar, P A Sangma and Tariq Anwar challenged her right to try to become the Prime Minister because of her foreign origin. Sonia Gandhi offered to resign but there was a huge support within the party for Sonia Gandhi which led to the expulsion of the three rebels who then formed their own party called the Nationalist Congress Party.Sonia Gandhi was born on 9 December 1946 in Contrada Miani, Lusiana and she belonged to a Roman Catholic family with her parents Stefano Miano and Paola Miano. She lived in the village which is approximately 30 kms from Vicenza, Veneto in Italy where the Mianos have lived for generations. She studied in a Catholic school in Orbassano and then in 1964 went to the city of Cambridge to study English in a school under Bell Education Trust. Sonia Gandhi met Rajiv Gandhi at Varsity Restaurant in 1965 where she used to work whereas Rajiv Gandhi was studying at the Trinity College, Cambridge University at that time. Sonia and Rajiv got married in 1968 in a Hindu ceremony and then they moved and lived into the house of her mother-in-law and the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi has two children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Rajiv Gandhi worked as an airline pilot and Sonia took care of the family. Despite being a member of the Nehru family, the couple avoided all involvement in politics. Rajiv actually entered politics after the death of his brother Sanjay Gandhi in a plane crash in 1980. Sonia Gandhi became a primary member of the Congress party in 1997 and later became the President in 1998. In the Loksabha elections of 1999, she contested in two seats one from Bellary, Karnataka and another from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. She won both the seats and then chose to be a representative of Amethi where she had defeated BJP leader Sushma Swaraj. She was elected as the Leader of Opposition in 1999 and also called a no-confidence motion against NDA government in 2003.In 2004 Sonia Gandhi launched a nationwide campaign against the NDA government and following the unexpected defeat of the NDA she was expected to be the next Prime Minister of the country. However due to opposition from the NDA as well as legal issues Sonia Gandhi chose Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister of the country. In 2013, she became the first Congress President to serve for 15 years continuously. In 2014 she contested and held her seat in Rae Bareli. Forbes powerful list ranked Sonia Gandhi 21st overall and 3rd most powerful woman in 2007. New Statesman listed Sonia Gandhi at number 29 in their annual survey of World's 50 Most Influential Figures in the year 2010.

Congress to Protest Outside BJP Office After Manohar Lal Khattar Calls Sonia Gandhi A 'Dead Mouse'
India.com News Desk | October 14, 2019 1:04 PM IST
New Delhi: A day after Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar compared interim Congress Presiden...
Congress to Protest Outside BJP Office After Manohar Lal Khattar Calls Sonia Gandhi A 'Dead Mouse'
indiacom
2019-10-14T02:04:05+00:00
2019-10-14T02:21:48+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
'Chuhiya, Vo Bhi Mari Hui', Khattar Makes Snide Remark on Sonia Gandhi; Congress Demands Apology
India.com News Desk | October 14, 2019 9:47 AM IST
New Delhi: Ahead of the Haryana Assembly election 2019, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has lande...
'Chuhiya, Vo Bhi Mari Hui', Khattar Makes Snide Remark on Sonia Gandhi; Congress Demands Apology
indiacom
2019-10-13T22:47:17+00:00
2019-10-13T22:51:14+00:00
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India.com
Only Dead Fish Flow With Water: Rahul Gandhi Should Return as Congress President, Says Salman Khurshid
India.com News Desk | October 13, 2019 6:29 AM IST
New Delhi: Days after veteran Congress leader Salman Khurshid created an uproar by saying that the p...
Only Dead Fish Flow With Water: Rahul Gandhi Should Return as Congress President, Says Salman Khurshid
indiacom
2019-10-12T19:29:17+00:00
2019-10-12T22:33:20+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Meets Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh in Delhi
India.com News Desk | October 6, 2019 1:06 PM IST
New Delhi: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi...
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Meets Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh in Delhi
indiacom
2019-10-06T02:06:37+00:00
2019-10-06T02:06:37+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
116th Birth Anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri: PM Modi Remembers 'Jai Jawan' Slogan
India.com News Desk | October 2, 2019 10:33 AM IST
New Delhi: As India is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, tribute poured in ...
116th Birth Anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri: PM Modi Remembers 'Jai Jawan' Slogan
indiacom
2019-10-01T23:33:38+00:00
2019-10-02T00:38:37+00:00
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India.com
Congress Appoints Rohan Gupta as Social Media Head: All You Need to Know
India.com News Desk | September 29, 2019 12:12 AM IST
New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday appointed Old Guards nominee Rohan Gupta as the brand new Social...
Congress Appoints Rohan Gupta as Social Media Head: All You Need to Know
indiacom
2019-09-28T13:12:35+00:00
2019-09-28T13:12:35+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
Priyanka Gandhi to Join Congress' Gandhi Jayanti 'Padyatra', to Lead March in Uttar Pradesh
India.com News Desk | September 26, 2019 1:31 PM IST
New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday confirmed that Priyanka Gandhi, its General Secretary (UP East),...
Priyanka Gandhi to Join Congress' Gandhi Jayanti 'Padyatra', to Lead March in Uttar Pradesh
indiacom
2019-09-26T02:31:34+00:00
2019-09-26T02:38:06+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
'Will Stay Strong And Brave', Says Chidambaram After Meeting Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh
India.com News Desk | September 23, 2019 8:36 AM IST
New Delhi: Congress' interim president Sonia Gandhi and Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh visi...
'Will Stay Strong And Brave', Says Chidambaram After Meeting Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh
indiacom
2019-09-22T21:36:14+00:00
2019-09-23T00:26:52+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
Congress Needs to Have a Concrete Agitational Agenda, Sonia Gandhi Tells Party Workers
India.com News Desk | September 13, 2019 6:55 AM IST
New Delhi: Asking party workers and leaders to come strongly against the Central government's polici...
Congress Needs to Have a Concrete Agitational Agenda, Sonia Gandhi Tells Party Workers
indiacom
2019-09-12T19:55:26+00:00
2019-09-12T19:55:26+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
Sonia Gandhi Chairs Party Meeting; Gandhi Jayanti Preparations, Training on Agenda
India.com News Desk | September 12, 2019 9:44 AM IST
New Delhi: Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday chaired a meeting of senior party lea...
Sonia Gandhi Chairs Party Meeting; Gandhi Jayanti Preparations, Training on Agenda
indiacom
2019-09-11T22:44:12+00:00
2019-09-12T03:16:41+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
'Didn't Ask For Time, Focusing on Maharashtra Polls': Jyotiraditya Scindia Denies he Was to Meet Sonia Gandhi
India.com News Desk | September 10, 2019 7:17 PM IST
New Delhi: Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday refuted reports that he was expected to m...
'Didn't Ask For Time, Focusing on Maharashtra Polls': Jyotiraditya Scindia Denies he Was to Meet Sonia Gandhi
indiacom
2019-09-10T08:17:26+00:00
2019-09-10T08:17:26+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
Sonia Gandhi Expresses 'Concern' to Kamal Nath as Infighting Continues in Madhya Pradesh Congress
India.com News Desk | September 8, 2019 7:45 AM IST
New Delhi: Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday met Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kam...
Sonia Gandhi Expresses 'Concern' to Kamal Nath as Infighting Continues in Madhya Pradesh Congress
indiacom
2019-09-07T20:45:35+00:00
2019-09-08T00:58:25+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
Kamal Nath Meets Sonia Gandhi Amid MP's Congress Chief Crisis, Says 'Discussion Was Fruitful'
India.com News Desk | August 30, 2019 1:11 PM IST
Indore: Days after reports surfaced that Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia had asked the party to...
Kamal Nath Meets Sonia Gandhi Amid MP's Congress Chief Crisis, Says 'Discussion Was Fruitful'
indiacom
2019-08-30T02:11:08+00:00
2019-08-30T02:11:08+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
PC Chacko Seeks to Resign as Congress Delhi Unit Chief, Party to Choose New Face Soon
India.com News Desk | August 29, 2019 4:03 PM IST
New Delhi: Just six months before the Delhi polls, Congress' city unit in-charge PC Chacko is lookin...
PC Chacko Seeks to Resign as Congress Delhi Unit Chief, Party to Choose New Face Soon
indiacom
2019-08-29T05:03:54+00:00
2019-08-29T05:03:54+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
Congress Leaders to Gather at Interim President Sonia Gandhi's Residence to Pick Delhi Unit Chief
India.com News Desk | August 27, 2019 2:47 PM IST
New Delhi: A meeting to decide the next Delhi Congress President would be held at the residence of I...
Congress Leaders to Gather at Interim President Sonia Gandhi's Residence to Pick Delhi Unit Chief
indiacom
2019-08-27T03:47:05+00:00
2019-08-27T03:47:05+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
Sonia Hits Out at Centre, Says 'Rajiv Gandhi Never Used Power to Endanger Democracy'
India.com News Desk | August 22, 2019 7:54 PM IST
New Delhi: Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday hit out at the Centre while talking a...
Sonia Hits Out at Centre, Says 'Rajiv Gandhi Never Used Power to Endanger Democracy'
indiacom
2019-08-22T08:54:21+00:00
2019-08-22T08:54:21+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
Rajiv Gandhi 75th Birth Anniversary Today: PM Modi, Gandhi Family Pay Tributes to Late Prime Minister
India.com News Desk | August 20, 2019 8:21 AM IST
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tributes to former PM Rajiv Gandhi on his 75...
Rajiv Gandhi 75th Birth Anniversary Today: PM Modi, Gandhi Family Pay Tributes to Late Prime Minister
indiacom
2019-08-19T21:21:26+00:00
2019-08-19T21:22:29+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
India No Place For Intolerance Yet Millions Encounter Discrimination Everyday: Sonia Gandhi
India.com News Desk | August 15, 2019 2:35 PM IST
New Delhi: Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said millions encounter discriminatio...
India No Place For Intolerance Yet Millions Encounter Discrimination Everyday: Sonia Gandhi
indiacom
2019-08-15T03:35:47+00:00
2019-08-15T03:36:25+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
Pushing Sonia Gandhi to Take Job of Party Chief Not Good Idea: Congress Leader AK Antony
India.com News Desk | August 12, 2019 7:19 AM IST
New Delhi: While the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday elected Sonia Gandhi as interim pr...
Pushing Sonia Gandhi to Take Job of Party Chief Not Good Idea: Congress Leader AK Antony
indiacom
2019-08-11T20:19:09+00:00
2019-08-11T20:19:09+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com
CWC Accepts Rahul Gandhi's Resignation, Appoints Sonia as Interim Congress President
India.com News Desk | August 10, 2019 10:58 PM IST
New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday elected Sonia Gandhi as interim presiden...
CWC Accepts Rahul Gandhi's Resignation, Appoints Sonia as Interim Congress President
indiacom
2019-08-10T11:58:45+00:00
2019-08-10T12:42:18+00:00
Sonia Gandhi
India.com