Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi is an Italian-born Indian politician who has held the position of president of the ‘Indian National Congress’ party since 1998. She was re-elected to this position for the fourth time in 2010, thus becoming the longest-serving president in the 125-year-history of the ‘Congress’ party. She is also the chairperson of the ‘United Progressive Alliance’ in the Lok Sabha, a position she is serving since 2004. Sonia Gandhi is the first foreign-born person to become president of the ‘Congress’ party since India’s independence in 1947. Born in Italy, she came to India after marrying Rajiv Gandhi, a scion of the politically powerful Nehru–Gandhi family, which had long been associated with the ‘Indian National Congress.’ She kept away from politics during the initial years of her marriage and vehemently refused to enter politics even after the tragic assassination of her husband in 1991. But the dwindling fortunes of the ‘Congress’ in the ensuing years motivated her to join the party as a primary member. Since then, she has played a significant role in Indian politics and is considered a powerful figure in the international political scenario as well. She was named among ‘Time 100 most influential people in the world’ in 2007 and 2008.