Sonia Gandhi is an Indian politician of Italian descent. By way of her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi, she is a member of the Nehru–Gandhi family. She was a former president of the Congress party. In 1998, she took over as the party leader and remained in office for a record nineteen years. Under her leadership, the party formed the government post the 2004 elections. She has since been credited for being instrumental in formulating the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). After the 2004 victory, Gandhi declined the premiership and instead led the ruling alliance and the National Advisory Council. In 2009, UPA was re-elected to power. Her foreign birth has been a subject of much debate and controversy. In December 2017, she stepped down as the Congress president. Sonia Gandhi has been widely described as one of the most powerful politicians in the country. She is also listed among the most powerful women in the world. Early life: She was born in a small village near Vicenza, Italy and was raised in a Roman Catholic Christian family. For higher education, she moved to Cambridge and in 1968, married Rajiv Gandhi. After marriage, she took up Indian citizenship and began living in India. Following her husband's assassination, she finally agreed to join politics in 1997.
Read More
Speaking infront of a handsome crowd, Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of being "hollow" and speaking "lies" and said the "chowkidar" was silent on issues concerning judiciary, women's safety, Dalits, youth, farmers besides corruption.
Questioning PM Modi's 'silence' over various issues, Rahul Gandhi said the PM did not speak on Doklam during his recent tour to China.
Polling will be held in a single phase on May 12 for 224 assembly seats, including 36 reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 15 for the Scheduled Tribes. Votes will be counted on May 15.
During a meeting with then US ambassador, Rahul Gandhi had said saffron terror was a bigger threat than the Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed the BJP quoting a telegram sourced from Wikileaks.
BJP spokesperson Anil Baluni said Rahul Gandhi should not worry about Modi and should rather be concerned about his and Sonia Gandhi's electoral fate in 2019.
Former union minister Praful Patel was also present in the meeting.
Sonia Gandhi and her daughter were staying at the Wildflower Hall, an Oberoi Group luxury resort.
BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao on Saturday night said the Congress is incapable of mounting a political challenge against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In her address at the 84th Congress Plenary Session, Sonia gave a clarion call to the partymen to be ready for any kind of sacrifice to strengthen the party and to make the county free from discrimination, vendetta politics and arrogance.
"They (BJP) use anger we use love but one thing that I want to say is that this country belongs to everyone and whatever Congress will do will be for the benefit for all," Gandhi said.
"In the last four years, this arrogant govt has left no stone unturned to destroy Congress. But Congress has never cowered down and it will never cower down," said Sonia Gandhi.
The prominent leaders in attendance were NCP’s Sharad Pawar, SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav, BSP’s Satish Chandra Misra and former chief ministers Omar Abdullah, Babulal Marandi, Hemant Soren and Jiten Ram Manjhi, besides Sharad Yadav and RLD’s Ajit Singh.
As per reports, leaders of 17 opposition parties are expected to attend the dinner at the UPA chairperson's residence at 10 Janpath.
On if the Congress will survive without a Gandhi as its leader, Sonia said the question should be put to Congress workers.
In a deeply introspective speech, Sonia spoke on a wide range of topics, including her children, her own shortcomings and the role of democracy in India, the first time she has opened up since relinquishing the party president post.
Sources close to the Congress confirmed that Sonia Gandhi's dinner would signify the coming together of all opposition parties who would take on the BJP inside and outside Parliament.
Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior leaders including A K Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge attended the meeting.
"We have elected a new Congress president and on your behalf and on my own, I wish him all the very best. He is now my boss too—let there be no doubt about that", she said.
The meeting, held at the Parliament Library Building, is seen as part of efforts to galvanise support of all 17 parties which had come together during the presidential and vice presidential polls against the ruling party.
The meeting is slated to be held in the Parliament Library Building in the evening after the presentation of the Union Budget tomorrow morning by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Top News
Trending News
Latest News
