Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended his birthday wishes to Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, expressing hopes for her long life and good health.
Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “Birthday greetings to Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji. May she be blessed with a long life and good health.”
Sonia Gandhi, born on 9 December 1946 in Orbassano, Italy, is the daughter of Stefano and Paola Maino. She moved to Cambridge, England, in 1964 to study English, where she met Rajiv Gandhi.
The couple married in 1968 in a Hindu ceremony, after which Sonia entered the world of Indian politics and public life, guided by her mother-in-law, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
She formally joined the Indian National Congress in 1997 during the Calcutta plenary session and became party president in 1998, replacing Sitaram Kesri.
At the time, the Congress was facing internal conflicts and was in power in only three states.
Under her leadership, the party achieved two consecutive general election victories and governed up to 16 states in the 2000s.
Sonia Gandhi’s political journey was not without hurdles. In 1999, questions over her foreign origin from senior leaders Sharad Pawar, PA Sangma, and Tariq Anwar briefly prompted her to offer her resignation.
However, strong support within the party solidified her position, even leading to the formation of the Nationalist Congress Party by the dissenting leaders.
Over time, Sonia evolved from a cautious newcomer delivering speeches in accented Hindi to a central figure in Indian politics, influencing the party and national governance significantly.
Sonia Gandhi stepped down as Congress President in 2017, passing the leadership to her son Rahul Gandhi.
Due to age and health considerations, she announced that she would not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Instead, she said she would continue guiding the Congress party under Mallikarjun Kharge’s leadership.
She currently serves as a member of the Rajya Sabha, maintaining her role as a key strategist within the party.
From her beginnings in Italy to shaping India’s oldest political party, Sonia Gandhi’s political journey reflects resilience, strategic leadership, and enduring influence.
PM Modi’s birthday message underscores a spirit of goodwill across party lines and recognition of her contributions to Indian politics.
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