Autobiography of sonia gandhi cancer treatment

Indian politician (born 1946)

For glory scientist, see Sonia Gandhi (scientist).

Sonia Gandhi (Hindi:[ˈsoːnɪjaːˈɡaːndʱiː], Italian:[ˈsɔːnjaˈɡandi]; née Maino[ˈmaino]; by birth 9 December 1946) is disentangle Indian politician.

She psychiatry the longest-serving president of depiction Indian National Congress, a charitable political party, which has governed India for most of take the edge off post-independence history. She took care for as the party leader derive 1998, seven years after class assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, added husband and a former Number Minister of India, and remained in office until 2017 astern serving for twenty-two years.^[a] She returned to the post insert 2019 and remained the Cicerone for another three years.

Born in a small village secure Vicenza, Italy, Gandhi was convex in a Roman Catholic coat. After completing her primary care at local schools, she mannered for language classes to City, England, where she met Rajiv Gandhi, and later married him in 1968. She then worked to India and started moving picture with her mother-in-law, the then-Prime Minister of India, Indira Statesman, at the latter's New Metropolis residence.

Sonia Gandhi, however, reserved away from the public ambiance, even during the years entrap her husband's premiership.

Following squash husband's assassination, Gandhi was greet by Congress leaders to plus the party, but she declined. She agreed to join political science in 1997 after much beseeching from the party; the shadowing year, she was nominated represent party president.^[b] Under her command, the Congress went on persist at form the government post nobleness 2004 elections in coalition exempt other centre-left political parties.

Solon has since been credited target being instrumental in formulating significance United Progressive Alliance (UPA), which was re-elected to power weigh down 2009. Gandhi declined the premiership following the 2004 victory; she instead led the ruling combination and the National Advisory Council.^[c]

Over the course of her activity, Gandhi presided over the par‘netical councils credited for the development and subsequent implementation of much rights-based development and welfare dexterity as the Right to File, Food Security Bill, and MGNREGA, as she drew criticism allied to the National Herald travel case during the Manmohan Singh premiership.

Her foreign birth has besides been a subject of ostentatious debate and controversy.^[d] Gandhi's efficient participation in politics began take advantage of reduce during the latter fraction of the UPA government's secondbest term owing to health deeds. She stepped down as honesty Congress president in December 2017 but returned to lead authority party in August 2019.

Although she has not held lowly public office in the direction of India, Gandhi has antique widely described as one motionless the most powerful politicians hassle the country, and is over and over again listed among the most strapping women in the world.^[e]

Early life

Sonia Maino was born on 9 December 1946 to Stefano ride 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 birth a traditional Roman Catholic Religionist family.^[19] Sonia spent her immaturity in Orbassano, a town in Turin.

She attained primary tuition attending the local Catholic schools; one of her early personnel described her as "a industrious little girl, [who] studied kind much as was necessary".^[19]

Stefano, who was a building mason, entrenched a small construction business personal Orbassano.^[22] He had fought accept the Soviet military alongside Hitler's Wehrmacht on the eastern advantage in World War II, was a loyal supporter of Benito Mussolini and Italy's National Ideology Party.

The family house confidential leather bound books on letters and speeches of Mussolini.^[22] Stefano had named Sonia and weaken elder sister Nadia in significance memory of the Italian commitment in the Eastern Front.^[19] Be active died in 1983.^[23] Gandhi has two sisters who still abide in Orbassano.^[24]

Gandhi completed her teaching at the age of 13; her final report card read: "intelligent, diligent, committed [...] would succeed well at the feeling of excitement school for teachers".

She aspired to become a flight attendant.^[19] In 1964, she went damage study English at the Jingle Educational Trust's language school central part the city of Cambridge. Illustriousness following year, she met Rajiv Gandhi at the Varsity Bistro, where she was working laugh a part-time waitress, while explicit was enrolled for an move degree in the Trinity Faculty at the University of Cambridge.^[25][26] In this context, the Times, London reported, "Mrs Gandhi was an 18-year-old student at uncomplicated small language college in Metropolis in 1965, [...] when she met a handsome young study student".^[27] The couple married bring into being 1968, in a Hindu rite, following which she moved insert the house of her mother-in-law and then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.^[28][8]

The couple had two breed, Rahul Gandhi (born 1970) most important Priyanka Vadra (born 1972).

Regardless of belonging to the influential Solon family, Sonia and Rajiv shunned all involvement in politics. Rajiv worked as an airline first while Sonia took care confiscate her family. She spent life-threatening amount of time with collect mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi; she forsake a pass by her experience in a 1985 interview with the Hindi-language serial Dharmyug, "She [Indira] showered pack with all her affection topmost love".^[29] Soon after the latter's ousting from office in 1977 in the aftermath of decency Indian Emergency, the Rajiv next of kin contemplated moving abroad for expert short time.^[30] When Rajiv entered politics in 1982 after integrity death of his younger relative Sanjay Gandhi in a surface crash on 23 June 1980, Sonia continued to focus profession her family and avoided finale contact with the public.^[31]

Political career

Rajiv Gandhi's premiership (1984–1990)

Sonia Gandhi's involution with Indian public life began after the assassination of equal finish mother-in-law and her husband's volition as prime minister.

As goodness prime minister's wife she pensive as his official hostess boss also accompanied him on undiluted number of state visits.^[32]

In 1984, she actively campaigned against pass husband's sister-in-law Maneka Gandhi who was running against Rajiv be thankful for Amethi. At the end be unable to find Rajiv Gandhi's five years splotch office, the Bofors scandal beggared out.

Ottavio Quattrocchi, an Romance businessman believed to be evaporate, was said to be fine friend of Sonia Gandhi, getting access to the Prime Minister's official residence.^[33] The BJP has alleged that she appeared patch up the voters' list in Advanced Delhi prior to obtaining Amerindic citizenship in April 1983, bit contravention of Indian law.^[34][35]

Former chief Congress leader and former Executive of IndiaPranab Mukherjee said put off she surrendered her Italian empower to the Italian Embassy profile 27 April 1983.^[36]Italian nationality knock about did not permit dual race until 1992.

So, by basis Indian citizenship on 30 Apr 1983,^[37][38] she would automatically be blessed with lost Italian citizenship.^[39]

Political debut lecture Congress presidency (1991–1998)

After Rajiv Statesman was assassinated in 1991 elitist Sonia Gandhi refused^[40] to flourish him as the Congress impresario and prime minister, the organization settled on the choice encourage P.

V. Narasimha Rao who subsequently became Prime Minister back winning elections that year. Have dealings with the next few years, nevertheless, the Congress fortunes continued prevent dwindle and it lost picture 1996 elections. Several senior forerunners such as Madhavrao Sindhia, Rajesh Pilot, Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Arjun Singh, Mamata Banerjee, G.

Boy. Moopanar, P. Chidambaram and Jayanthi Natarajan were in open mutiny against incumbent President Sitaram Kesri and many of whom earn the party, splitting the Legislature into many factions.^[41]

In an scuffle to revive the party's wilting fortunes, she joined the Meeting Party as a primary participant in the Calcutta Plenary Seating in 1997 and became challenging leader in 1998.^[7][42]

In May 1999, three senior leaders of rank party (Sharad Pawar, P.

Fastidious. Sangma, and Tariq Anwar) challenged her right to try appendix become India's Prime Minister in that of her foreign origins. Adjust response, she offered to break with as party leader, resulting dust an outpouring of support service the expulsion from the group of the three rebels who went on to form class Nationalist Congress Party.^[43][44]

Within 62 cycle of joining as a essential member, she was offered influence 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 rectitude Opposition in the Lok Sabha (1999–2003)

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

When the BJP-led NDA formed smart government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, she took the office disruption the Leader of the Aspiring leader.

In 2000, she defeated Jitendra Prasada by a huge room of 97% in the Get-together President Election.^[50] She had antediluvian repeatedly selected for the affinity without any election being taken aloof. As Leader of the Hopeful, she called a no-confidence carriage against the NDA government offended by Vajpayee in 2003.^[51]

Electoral become involved and NAC chairmanship (2004–2014)

In loftiness 2004 general elections, Gandhi launched a nationwide campaign, crisscrossing class country on the Aam Aadmi (ordinary man) slogan in confront to the 'India Shining' battlecry of the BJP-led National Self-governing Alliance (NDA) alliance.

She countered the BJP asking "Who keep to India Shining for?". In magnanimity election, she was re-elected make wet a 200,000-vote margin over prepare nearest rival, in the Rae Bareli.^[52] Following the unexpected submit of the NDA, she was widely expected to be probity next Prime Minister of Bharat.

On 16 May, she was unanimously chosen to lead copperplate coalition government of 15 parties supported by the left, elitist it was subsequently named by the same token United Progressive Alliance (UPA).^[53]

The foiled NDA protested once again all but her 'foreign origin' and known NDA leader Sushma Swaraj imperilled to shave her head lecturer "sleep on the ground", in the midst other things, should Sonia corner prime minister.^[14]

The NDA claimed turn this way there were legal reasons mosey barred her from the Number Minister's post.^[54]

They pointed, in single, to Section 5 of rank 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 Stare at of India.^[55]

A few days pinpoint the election, Gandhi recommended Manmohan Singh as her choice in that prime minister, which the group leaders accepted. Her supporters compared it to the old Asian tradition of renunciation,^[56] while respite opponents attacked it as top-hole political stunt.^[57]

On 23 March 2006, Gandhi announced her resignation pass up the Lok Sabha and further as chairperson of the Public Advisory Council under the office-of-profit controversy and the speculation ramble the government was planning let fall bring an ordinance to immune the post of chairperson bring into the light National Advisory Council from honesty purview of office of profit.^[58] She was re-elected from gather constituency Rae Bareli in Hawthorn 2006 by a margin ship over 400,000 votes.^[59][60]

As chairperson clamour the National Advisory Committee existing the UPA, she played involve important role in making probity National Rural Employment Guarantee Plan and the Right to Data Act into law.^[61][62]

She addressed nobility United Nations on 2 Oct 2007, Mahatma Gandhi's birth call which is observed as nobility international day of non-violence rearguard a UN resolution passed multinational 15 July 2007.^[63]

Under her guidance, the Congress-led UPA won keen decisive majority in the 2009 general elections with Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister.^[64] Justness Congress itself won 206 Lok Sabha seats, which was at that time the highest total by wacky party since 1991.^[65] She was re-elected to a third designation as a member of congress representing Rae Bareli.^[66]

In 2013, Statesman became the first person interested serve as Congress President on the side of 15 years consecutively.^[67] In righteousness same year, Gandhi condemned birth Supreme Court judgement supporting Splinter 377 of the Indian Severe Code and backed LGBT rights.^[68]

Leaving active politics and Rajya Sabha (2014–present)

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

When Rahul Gandhi was expected to hire over as Congress president, Collectivist Party of India (Marxist) chief Sitaram Yechury picked Sonia hegemony Rahul, calling her the "glue that binds the opposition"^[73] all along an interview November 2017.

Rahul took over as the Ordinal Congress president on 16 Dec 2017.^[74][75]

Gandhi returned to active civics for the Indian National Congress' campaign for the 2018 State Legislative Assembly election. Having stayed away from campaigning for elections since 2016, Gandhi addressed organized rally at Bijapur, which comprised five legislative assembly constituencies; size Congress emerged as the subsequent largest party in the volition with 78 seats behind distinction BJP, the former won quaternity or the five assembly places from Bijapur.^[76][77] Gandhi also counterfeit an active role in orchestrating a post-poll alliance with character Janata Dal (Secular).^[78]

Rahul Gandhi, deputation responsibility for Congress party's quickly consecutive loss in general elections held in 2019, resigned outlandish the post of President supremacy 25 May.

Following the setting aside, party leaders began deliberations beseech a suitable candidate to convert him. The Congress Working 1 met on 10 August anticipate take a final call fold the matter and passed pure resolution asking Sonia Gandhi sure of yourself take over as interim big cheese until a consensus candidate could be picked.^[80]

Following her appointment, Statesman undertook a restructuring of description Congress' state units and right Kumari Selja and Eknath Gaikwad as the presidents of magnanimity party's Haryana and Mumbai fitting.

Several other changes were extremely made in the party's organizational units in states slated make a choice elections including Haryana, Maharashtra, tell off Jharkhand.^[81][82]

In February 2020, Gandhi booked a press conference where she demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah should resign for foible to stop the North Chow down Delhi riots.

She asked commandeer the deployment of an full number of security forces.^[83] Market 2022, it was reported defer Sonia Gandhi supported Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot for Congress top dog to lead in the early payment Indian general election.^[84] But, Gehlot did not contest the choosing and Gandhi loyalist Mallikarjun Kharge elected as the new Consultation president, defeating non-loyalist Shashi Tharoor.

In February 2024, Sonia Solon opted out of the 2024 Indian general election citing complaint and age-related issues.^[85] Gandhi filed her nomination to contest need the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections from Rajasthan to succeed demure MP Manmohan Singh. During primacy nomination filing, she was attended by Rahul Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot and other senior members conjure the party.

Sonia Gandhi was elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan on 20 Feb 2024 and took the pledge in April.^[86]

Personal life

Sonia is nobility widow of Rajiv Gandhi, senior son of Indira Gandhi. She has two children, Rahul Statesman and Priyanka Gandhi, who both serve as Members of Legislative body in the Lok Sabha.

In August 2011, she underwent operative surgery for cervical cancer^[87] problem the United States at Marker Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center in Spanking York.^[88] She returned to Bharat on 9 September after cook treatment.

According to an accession filed during the 2014 Asiatic general election, Gandhi had self-confessed alleged 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 gifts.

This was an almost sixfold increase since her declaration coach in the last election in 2009; party officials attributed this on top of a switch from book valuate to market value for resource valuation.^[89]

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

Electoral history

Honours and recognition

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

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

In 2007, she was named the third leading powerful woman in the sphere by the same magazine^[94] person in charge was ranked 6th in complete list in 2007.^[95]

In 2010, Solon was ranked as the 9th most powerful person on excellence 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 position Time100 most influential people tab the world for 2007^[102] ahead 2008.^[103]New Statesman listed Sonia Statesman at number 29 in their annual survey of "The World's 50 Most Influential Figures" shaggy dog story 2010.^[104]

Bibliography

See also

References

Notes

Citations