Journalism of Courage
Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi, who stepped down as Congress president in 2017, was the longest-serving president of the country's oldest political party Indian National Congress. She was succeeded by her son Rahul Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi was born on December 9, 1946, to Stefano Maino, a building mason, and Paola Maino. She grew up Roman Catholic in Orbassano, a small town in Italy, with her sisters Nadia and Anoushka. In 1964, she went to Cambridge in England to study English, where she came across Rajiv Gandhi, who was studying engineering. The two fell in love, and in 1968, got married in a Hindu ceremony. Sonia then moved into the household of her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi, entering the world of limelight, intrigue, and often, violence, that was India’s politics.
It was around 25 years ago that Sonia Gandhi first became the Congress president. When the reluctant politician first took over the reins of the party in 1998, the Congress was in disarray — two of its ‘natural’ leaders assassinated within a decade, fresh from a Lok Sabha election loss, and facing infighting and defections. It was in power in just three states: Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Mizoram. Under her, the party would go on to win two General Elections back to back and rule as many as 16 states at one point in the 2000s, before embarking on the ignominious slide since 2014.
Sonia became a member of the Congress party only in 1997 — at the plenary in Calcutta. In the 1998 polls, Congress won 141 seats, one more than the last time’s tally. Within months, Sonia was elected Congress president, Sitaram Kesri removed in a bloodless coup.
Not everyone was happy with her advancement though. In May 1999, three senior leaders, Sharad Pawar, PA Sangma, and Tariq Anwar, raised the issue of Sonia’s foreign origins. Sonia promptly offered to step away, there was a flood of support for her, and the row ended with the formation of the Nationalist Congress Party and the cementing of Sonia’s position. While Sonia’s initial foray into the political arena saw her read out speeches in a heavily accented Hindi, over the years, she eventually came to dominate not just the Congress, but the Indian political scene.
However, Sonia Gandhi announced that she will not be contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections due to her age and health issues, rather she will act as the guide to Mallikarjun Kharge, the party president.
It was around 25 years ago that Sonia Gandhi first became the Congress president. When the reluctant politician first took over the reins of the party in 1998, the Congress was in disarray — two of its ‘natural’ leaders assassinated within a decade, fresh from a Lok Sabha election loss, and facing infighting and defections. It was in power in just three states: Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Mizoram. Under her, the party would go on to win two General Elections back to back and rule as many as 16 states at one point in the 2000s, before embarking on the ignominious slide since 2014.
Sonia became a member of the Congress party only in 1997 — at the plenary in Calcutta. In the 1998 polls, Congress won 141 seats, one more than the last time’s tally. Within months, Sonia was elected Congress president, Sitaram Kesri removed in a bloodless coup.
Not everyone was happy with her advancement though. In May 1999, three senior leaders, Sharad Pawar, PA Sangma, and Tariq Anwar, raised the issue of Sonia’s foreign origins. Sonia promptly offered to step away, there was a flood of support for her, and the row ended with the formation of the Nationalist Congress Party and the cementing of Sonia’s position. While Sonia’s initial foray into the political arena saw her read out speeches in a heavily accented Hindi, over the years, she eventually came to dominate not just the Congress, but the Indian political scene.
However, Sonia Gandhi announced that she will not be contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections due to her age and health issues, rather she will act as the guide to Mallikarjun Kharge, the party president.
SONIA GANDHI NEWS
Great Nicobar Project: A crucial peg in the Viksit Bharat vision
September 13, 2025 11:22 am
Is there something more sinister in the opposition to the project than just environmental concerns?
Delhi court junks plea seeking probe against Sonia Gandhi over electoral roll allegations
September 11, 2025 5:08 pm
The complainant in the case, advocate Vikas Tripathi, had sought the registration of an FIR in the matter.
Sonia Gandhi registered as a voter 3 years before getting citizenship, says lawyer in Delhi court petition for probe
September 05, 2025 11:10 am
Rouse Avenue Courts Bar Association Vice-President Vikas Tripathi, the complainant in the case against Sonia Gandhi, has sought a direction for the police to register an FIR or file a status report.
Targeting Gandhi family, Kejriwal alleges collusion between Cong & BJP
August 29, 2025 4:41 am
While the AAP has MLAs in Goa, Gujarat and Kashmir, it is in power only in Punjab after losing the February Assembly polls in Delhi. The biggest challenge for the party now is to remain in power in Punjab, which will go to polls in early 2027.
‘Constitution under siege’: Sonia accuses BJP-RSS of plotting ‘ideological coup’
August 03, 2025 3:59 am
"Their (BJP-RSS) ideological forebears glorified Manusmriti, rejected the Tricolour, and envisioned a Hindu Rashtra where democracy is hollow" the special message by Sonia Gandhi read
Today in Politics: Ahead of Monsoon Session in Parliament, Sonia Gandhi to lead Cong strategy meeting
July 15, 2025 9:05 am
The Sharad Pawar-led NCP(SP) is holding a general body meeting. In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M K Stalin is launching a public outreach programme
Sonia Gandhi lawyer to court in National Herald case: A strange case, might even be unprecedented
July 05, 2025 8:24 am
“Debt can be assigned to someone else to make companies debt-free... Suppose AJL’s debt was taken by Tatas or Birlas, will Tatas and Birlas be accused of money laundering?” Singhvi argued. “YI only has a right on dividends and not on the assets of AJL,” he said.
Sonia Gandhi undergoes tests at IGMC, party says routine check-up
June 08, 2025 3:02 pm
Sonia (78), who is on a personal visit to state along with her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, underwent some tests at the hospital, where she remained for around half an hour before being discharged.
Explained: What is the National Herald money laundering case in which Rahul and Sonia Gandhi are named?
May 06, 2025 8:52 am
On Friday, Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Court issued notice to Sonia and Rahul stating that they had the right to be heard during cognizance of the chargesheet.
Court issues notice to Sonia & Rahul in National Herald case, flags right to be heard
May 03, 2025 10:07 am
Earlier, the judge had asked the ED to rectify deficiencies in the chargesheet so that notice could be issued. On Friday, the judge said nothing on merits of the case will be discussed as of yet.
SONIA GANDHI PHOTOS
'Stop jhula diplomacy': Opposition party leaders corner govt on China incursions
December 21, 2022 2:54 pm
Opposition parties, led by Congress MPs Sonia Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, on Wednesday staged a protest at the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex, demanding a discussion over the border issue with China.
In Photos: Sonia Gandhi joins Bharat Jodo Yatra in Karnataka’s Mandya district
October 06, 2022 2:26 pm
Sonia Gandhi arrived in Mysuru on Monday and offered prayers at a temple in the H D Kote Assembly segment on Wednesday on the occasion of Vijayadashami.
In pictures: Ghulam Nabi Azad's over 4-decade journey with the Congress
August 26, 2022 2:47 pm
Azad was a member of the Congress Working Committee and a member of the Sonia Gandhi-headed political affairs group. (Express Archive)
Congress leaders pay tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on his 78th birth anniversary
August 20, 2022 11:32 am
Congress out in full force to protest price rise, unemployment and GST
August 05, 2022 2:06 pm
Congress interim president & MP Sonia Gandhi leads protest of party MPs against inflation and unemployment, in Parliament. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)
Rahul Gandhi leads Congress protest against price rise, ED
July 26, 2022 7:34 pm
The protesters stated that the money laundering case is “false” and no FIR has been lodged yet.
'Stop misuse by ED': Congress protests as Sonia Gandhi appears before agency for questioning in National Herald case
July 21, 2022 12:22 pm
Before Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi had been summoned by the ED for questioning in the National Herald case. Then, too, the Congress had staged protests.
Ambedkar Jayanti: People across nation, party lines pay homage to Babasaheb
April 14, 2022 9:54 pm
Leaders like Narendra Modi, JP Nadda, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mayawati, Nitish Kumar and many more celebrate the 131st birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb BR Ambedkar.
PM meets Sonia Gandhi, Mulayam Yadav, Farooq Abdullah as Parliament Budget Session concludes
April 07, 2022 8:52 pm
The Budget Session of Parliament was curtailed by a day on the request of Opposition leaders, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday, while asserting that the government was ready to conclude the session on the last day.
IE 100 2022: List of most powerful Indians
April 21, 2022 10:24 am
As the PM now for eight years, Modi remains disruptor-in-chief with a regularity that expands his presence and crimps his critics. Yogi Adityanath towers over the horizon, having entered the top five Sangh Parivar club. He ranks just after Mukesh Ambani.
SONIA GANDHI VIDEOS
Priyanka Gandhi takes a political Plunge, appointed Congress in-charge of UP East
June 22, 2020 6:04 pm
Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress Wednesday appointed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as general secretary of Uttar Pradesh East. She will take charge in the second week of February.
Express Eye for Detail 16: What went wrong in Bulandshahr, Christian Michel’s role in AgustaWestland scam and more
June 22, 2020 6:08 pm
This week we look at how UP got to a place where mob violence that spiralled out of control got a police officer killed, why the extradition of Christian Michel is a political hot potato & how a WhatsApp video ruined a woman’s life in Kerela.
Tall claims, empty boasts, falsification of facts not for him: Sonia Gandhi on Manmohan Singh
June 22, 2020 6:10 pm
Presenting former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh with the 2017 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, disarmament & development, UPA Chairperson appeared to take a dig at the current dispensation through her praise for Dr Singh.
Want a dialogue with all parties to settle the Ayodhya dispute, says union minister Uma Bharti
June 22, 2020 6:12 pm
Union Minister Uma Bharti has said that leaders across party lines must come together and sort out the Ayodhya dispute through dialogue. She also said that those in the government want to build a temple at the disputed site but will need support from
Photos Of the Day: 84th Plenary Session Of The Indian National Congress
June 22, 2020 6:26 pm
“The party’s victory will be the nation’s victory, it will be the victory for each one of us. Congress is not a political term, it is a movement,” Sonia Gandhi said.
5 States, 1 Script: Congress Leaders Do Not Listen
June 08, 2016 7:00 pm
Sonia Gandhi & Manmohan Singh Arrested During Congress's ‘Save Democracy’ March
May 07, 2016 6:22 pm
Don't target PM Modi unnecessarily: Naidu
February 25, 2016 4:21 pm
New Delhi, Feb 25 (ANI): Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday targeted the Congress, saying that the grand old party, which has been tolerated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for so many decades, should also tolerate the saffron party for at least ten years. Naidu said that the Congress was unnecessarily targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said unlike past governments where the prime minister (Manmohan Singh) presides and madam (Sonia Gandhi) decides, the BJP-led Government was working collectively in which Prime Minister Modi presides and the team decides.
Shah should not lecture Congress on nationalism: Sibal
February 15, 2016 4:24 pm
New Delhi, Feb 15 (ANI): Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Monday rubbished Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah’s comment on the Jawaharlal Nehru University row, saying he did not have the stature to lecture Congress president Sonia Gandhi or vice president Rahul Gandhi on the issue of nationalism. Sibal said instead of dealing with the university students in the way that they should be dealt with, the BJP was busy proving that they were criminals. Sibal further stated that India is no more under British rule and added that Amit Shah and PM Modi cannot stop these young children from speaking their minds.
National Herald case: Sonia, Rahul exempted from personal appearance
February 12, 2016 10:13 am
New Delhi, Feb 12 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Friday refused to quash the trail court proceedings against the five Congress leaders but exempted party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi from personal appearance. Senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Sighvi, who is fighting the Herald case for Gandhi’s, expressed his delight and said that it is a big relief for the family, as every inference and conclusion in the High Court has been rendered inoperative. He further added that every point argued in the High Court has been left open for them by the apex court to argue again at the stage of framing charges.
Advertisement
Best of Express
EntertainmentCharged with 48 crimes and imprisoned for 11 years, she inspired film that won 3 National Awards; launched Manoj Bajpayee and Shekhar Kapur's global career
EntertainmentThamma collection day 7: Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika film sees 65% drop, needs Rs 4.45 cr to enter Rs 100 cr club
TrendingUS YouTuber Tyler Oliveira triggers backlash after filming cow dung-flinging ritual in Indian village: who is he?
TrendingSerbian man on cleanup mission spots BMW car dumped among trash in Amritsar, video sparks criticism: 'disgrace for luxury cars'
Advertisement
Advertisement