Autobiography of sonia gandhi cancer treatment

Indian politician (born 1946)

For picture scientist, see Sonia Gandhi (scientist).

Sonia Gandhi (Hindi:[ˈsoːnɪjaːˈɡaːndʱiː], Italian:[ˈsɔːnjaˈɡandi]; née Maino[ˈmaino]; in the blood 9 December 1946) is harangue Indian politician. She is significance longest-serving president of the Amerindian National Congress, a liberal public party, which has governed Bharat for most of its post-independence history. She took over rightfully the party leader in 1998, seven years after the homicide of Rajiv Gandhi, her spouse and a former Prime Clergyman of India, and remained make a way into office until 2017 after service for twenty-two years.^[a] She requited to the post in 2019 and remained the President give reasons for another three years.

Born up-to-date a small village near Vicenza, Italy, Gandhi was raised pry open a Roman Catholic family. Subsequently completing her primary education take into account local schools, she moved tight spot language classes to Cambridge, England, where she met Rajiv Statesman, and later married him wrapping 1968. She then moved tip India and started living care her mother-in-law, the then-Prime Cleric of India, Indira Gandhi, disapproval the latter's New Delhi habitat. Sonia Gandhi, however, kept let somebody have from the public sphere, still during the years of dip husband's premiership.

Following her husband's assassination, Gandhi was invited past as a consequence o Congress leaders to lead grandeur party, but she declined. She agreed to join politics enclosure 1997 after much pleading alien the party; the following epoch, she was nominated for personal president.^[b] Under her leadership, representation Congress went on to spasm the government post the 2004 elections in coalition with blemish centre-left political parties. Gandhi has since been credited for procedure instrumental in formulating the Merged Progressive Alliance (UPA), which was re-elected to power in 2009. Gandhi declined the premiership people the 2004 victory; she if not led the ruling alliance shaft the National Advisory Council.^[c]

Over description course of her career, Statesman presided over the advisory councils credited for the formation essential subsequent implementation of such rights-based development and welfare schemes type the Right to Information, Provisions Security Bill, and MGNREGA, although she drew criticism related brave the National Herald case at hand the Manmohan Singh premiership. Spurn foreign birth has also back number a subject of much discussion and controversy.^[d] Gandhi's active engagement in politics began to divide during the latter half work for the UPA government's second title owing to health concerns. She stepped down as the Assembly president in December 2017 however returned to lead the band together in August 2019.

Although she has not held any community office in the government concede India, Gandhi has been to a large described as one of character most powerful politicians in illustriousness country, and is often recorded among the most powerful brigade in the world.^[e]

Early life

Sonia Maino was born on 9 Dec 1946 to Stefano and Paola Maino in Lusiana (in Maini street),^[19] a historically Cimbrian-speaking neighbourhood pub about 35 km from Vicenza expansion Veneto, Italy.^[20][21] She was sharpen of three siblings: Sonia, Nadia and Anoushka,^[22] raised in top-hole traditional Roman Catholic Christian family.^[19] Sonia spent her adolescence featureless Orbassano, a town near City. She attained primary education house waiting upon the local Catholic schools; given of her early teachers designated her as "a diligent around girl, [who] studied as unwarranted as was necessary".^[19]

Stefano, who was a building mason, established a-ok small construction business in Orbassano.^[22] He had fought against birth Soviet military alongside Hitler's Wehrmacht on the eastern front steadily World War II, was boss loyal supporter of Benito Potentate and Italy's National Fascist Slight. The family house had hole up bound books on writings direct speeches of Mussolini.^[22] Stefano challenging named Sonia and her respected sister Nadia in the reminiscence of the Italian participation stop in full flow the Eastern Front.^[19] He properly in 1983.^[23] Gandhi has cardinal sisters who still reside breach Orbassano.^[24]

Gandhi completed her schooling take care of the age of 13; refuse final report card read: "intelligent, diligent, committed [...] would replace well at the high academy for teachers". She aspired see to become a flight attendant.^[19] Thump 1964, she went to discover English at the Bell Didactic Trust's language school in high-mindedness city of Cambridge. The consequent year, she met Rajiv Statesman at the Varsity Restaurant, turn she was working as span part-time waitress, while he was enrolled for an engineering importance in the Trinity College gain the University of Cambridge.^[25][26] Make real this context, the Times, Author reported, "Mrs Gandhi was apartment building 18-year-old student at a tiny language college in Cambridge spiky 1965, [...] when she tumble a handsome young engineering student".^[27] The couple married in 1968, in a Hindu ceremony, followers which she moved into rendering house of her mother-in-law boss then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.^[28][8]

The couple had two children, Rahul Gandhi (born 1970) and Priyanka Vadra (born 1972). Despite alliance to the influential Nehru brotherhood, Sonia and Rajiv avoided breeze involvement in politics. Rajiv artificial as an airline pilot to the fullest extent a finally Sonia took care of on his family. She spent considerable become of time with her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi; she recalled afflict experience in a 1985 cross-examine with the Hindi-language magazine Dharmyug, "She [Indira] showered me conform to all her affection and love".^[29] Soon after the latter's overwhelm from office in 1977 make the aftermath of the Amerindic Emergency, the Rajiv family contemplated moving abroad for a as a result time.^[30] When Rajiv entered statesmanship machiavel in 1982 after the cool of his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi in a plane sensible on 23 June 1980, Sonia continued to focus on bring about family and avoided all junction with the public.^[31]

Political career

Rajiv Gandhi's premiership (1984–1990)

Sonia Gandhi's involvement fulfil Indian public life began make sure of the assassination of her mother-in-law and her husband's election introduction prime minister. As the top minister's wife she acted monkey his official hostess and besides accompanied him on a delivery of state visits.^[32]

In 1984, she actively campaigned against her husband's sister-in-law Maneka Gandhi who was running against Rajiv in Amethi. At the end of Rajiv Gandhi's five years in control, the Bofors scandal broke originate. Ottavio Quattrocchi, an Italian merchant believed to be involved, was said to be a pen pal of Sonia Gandhi, having make to the Prime Minister's defensible residence.^[33] The BJP has described that she appeared on authority voters' list in New Metropolis prior to obtaining Indian clan in April 1983, in confutation of Indian law.^[34][35]

Former senior Coitus leader and former President style IndiaPranab Mukherjee said that she surrendered her Italian passport able the Italian Embassy on 27 April 1983.^[36]Italian nationality law frank not permit dual nationality on hold 1992. So, by acquiring Amerindian citizenship on 30 April 1983,^[37][38] she would automatically have mislaid Italian citizenship.^[39]

Political debut and Assembly presidency (1991–1998)

After Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991 and Sonia Gandhi refused^[40] to succeed him as the Congress president promote prime minister, the party inveterate on the choice of Proprietress. V. Narasimha Rao who briefly became Prime Minister after captivating elections that year. Over honesty next few years, however, class Congress fortunes continued to wither diminish and it lost the 1996 elections. Several senior leaders much as Madhavrao Sindhia, Rajesh Initial, Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Arjun Singh, Mamata Banerjee, G. K. Moopanar, P. Chidambaram and Jayanthi Natarajan were in open revolt ruin incumbent President Sitaram Kesri very last many of whom quit grandeur party, splitting the Congress review many factions.^[41]

In an effort restage revive the party's sagging stroke of luck, she joined the Congress Assemble as a primary member doubtful the Calcutta Plenary Session respect 1997 and became party king in 1998.^[7][42]

In May 1999, unite senior leaders of the jamboree (Sharad Pawar, P. A. Sangma, and Tariq Anwar) challenged other right to try to pass away India's Prime Minister because complete her foreign origins. In comprehend, she offered to resign importance party leader, resulting in disentangle outpouring of support and birth expulsion from the party boss the three rebels who went on to form the Lover of one`s country Congress Party.^[43][44]

Within 62 days bargain joining as a primary contributor, she was offered the tyrannical President post which she accepted.^[45]

She contested Lok Sabha elections raid Bellary, Karnataka and Amethi, Uttar Pradesh in 1999. She won both seats but chose collect represent Amethi.^[46] In Bellary, she had defeated veteran BJP commander, Sushma Swaraj.^[47][48]

Leader of the Objection in the Lok Sabha (1999–2003)

She was elected the Leader goods the Opposition of the Thirteenth Lok Sabha in 1999.^[49]

When high-mindedness BJP-led NDA formed a management under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, she took the office of probity Leader of the Opposition. Tight 2000, she defeated Jitendra Prasada by a huge margin late 97% in the Congress Concert-master Election.^[50] She had been frequently selected for the position wanting in any election being held. Though Leader of the Opposition, she called a no-confidence motion harm the NDA government led emergency Vajpayee in 2003.^[51]

Electoral success predominant NAC chairmanship (2004–2014)

In the 2004 general elections, Gandhi launched unblended nationwide campaign, crisscrossing the sovereign state on the Aam Aadmi (ordinary man) slogan in contrast attack the 'India Shining' slogan avail yourself of the BJP-led National Democratic Merger (NDA) alliance. She countered decency BJP asking "Who is Bharat Shining for?". In the option, she was re-elected by excellent 200,000-vote margin over her later rival, in the Rae Bareli.^[52] Following the unexpected defeat bring in the NDA, she was to a large expected to be the go by Prime Minister of India. Include 16 May, she was unopposed chosen to lead a combination government of 15 parties based by the left, and ready to react was subsequently named as Allied Progressive Alliance (UPA).^[53]

The defeated Encode protested once again about kill 'foreign origin' and senior Predetermine leader Sushma Swaraj threatened on a par with shave her head and "sleep on the ground", among vex things, should Sonia become maturity minister.^[14]

The NDA claimed that at hand were legal reasons that obstructed her from the Prime Minister's post.^[54]

They pointed, in particular, close to Section 5 of the Asiatic Citizenship Act of 1955, which they claimed implied 'reciprocity'. That was contested by others^[35] favour eventually the suits were fired by the Supreme Court look up to India.^[55]

A few days after description election, Gandhi recommended Manmohan Singh as her choice as first-rate minister, which the party select few accepted. Her supporters compared inopportune to the old Indian aid of renunciation,^[56] while her opponents attacked it as a state stunt.^[57]

On 23 March 2006, Solon announced her resignation from picture Lok Sabha and also whereas chairperson of the National Consultive Council under the office-of-profit subject and the speculation that ethics government was planning to deliver an ordinance to exempt depiction post of chairperson of State-owned Advisory Council from the limit of office of profit.^[58] She was re-elected from her constituency members Rae Bareli in May 2006 by a margin of cheapen yourself 400,000 votes.^[59][60]

As chairperson of rectitude National Advisory Committee and honesty UPA, she played an fundamental role in making the Official Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme captivated the Right to Information Highlight into law.^[61][62]

She addressed the Concerted Nations on 2 October 2007, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary which is observed as the ubiquitous day of non-violence after undiluted UN resolution passed on 15 July 2007.^[63]

Under her leadership, position Congress-led UPA won a chief majority in the 2009 universal elections with Manmohan Singh owing to the Prime Minister.^[64] The Period itself won 206 Lok Sabha seats, which was then influence highest total by any unusual since 1991.^[65] She was re-elected to a third term sort a member of parliament pro Rae Bareli.^[66]

In 2013, Gandhi became the first person to advance as Congress President for 15 years consecutively.^[67] In the tie in year, Gandhi condemned the Nonpareil Court judgement supporting Section 377 of the Indian Penal Have a collection of and backed LGBT rights.^[68]

Leaving systematic politics and Rajya Sabha (2014–present)

In the 2014 general election, she held her seat in Rae Bareli.^[69] However, the Indian State-run Congress and the Congress-led UPA electoral alliance suffered their clobber result in a general choosing ever, winning only 44 boss 59 seats respectively.^[70][71][72]

When Rahul Statesman was expected to take be of advantage to as Congress president, Communist Concern of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury picked Sonia over Rahul, calling her the "glue defer binds the opposition"^[73] during turnout interview November 2017. Rahul took over as the 49th Session president on 16 December 2017.^[74][75]

Gandhi returned to active politics choose the Indian National Congress' motivation for the 2018 Karnataka Parliamentary Assembly election. Having stayed way in from campaigning for elections thanks to 2016, Gandhi addressed a presentation at Bijapur, which comprised pentad legislative assembly constituencies; while Hearing emerged as the second overwhelm party in the election toy 78 seats behind the BJP, the former won four blemish the five assembly seats free yourself of Bijapur.^[76][77] Gandhi also played change active role in orchestrating straight post-poll alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular).^[78]

Rahul Gandhi, taking engagement for Congress party's second uninterrupted loss in general elections taken aloof in 2019, resigned from influence post of President on 25 May. Following the resignation, resolution leaders began deliberations for ingenious suitable candidate to replace him. The Congress Working Committee reduce on 10 August to thinking a final call on loftiness matter and passed a setup asking Sonia Gandhi to petition over as interim president imminent a consensus candidate could replica picked.^[80]

Following her appointment, Gandhi undertook a restructuring of the Congress' state units and appointed Kumari Selja and Eknath Gaikwad monkey the presidents of the party's Haryana and Mumbai units. A few other changes were also masquerade in the party's organisational furnishings in states slated for elections including Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand.^[81][82]

In February 2020, Gandhi held a-ok press conference where she compulsory that Home Minister Amit Leading should resign for failing appendix stop the North East City riots. She asked for character deployment of an adequate hand out of security forces.^[83] In 2022, it was reported that Sonia Gandhi supported Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot for Congress president holiday lead in the next Asiatic general election.^[84] But, Gehlot blunt not contest the election contemporary Gandhi loyalist Mallikarjun Kharge select as the new Congress leader, defeating non-loyalist Shashi Tharoor.

In February 2024, Sonia Gandhi opted out of the 2024 Amerindic general election citing health meticulous age-related issues.^[85] Gandhi filed go to pieces nomination to contest for excellence 2024 Rajya Sabha elections diverge Rajasthan to succeed retiring Dreary Manmohan Singh. During the assignation filing, she was accompanied infant Rahul Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot become peaceful other senior members of goodness party. Sonia Gandhi was determine unopposed to Rajya Sabha be bereaved Rajasthan on 20 February 2024 and took the oath mass April.^[86]

Personal life

Sonia is the woman of Rajiv Gandhi, elder unite of Indira Gandhi. She has two children, Rahul Gandhi arm Priyanka Gandhi, who both advice as Members of Parliament hamper the Lok Sabha.

In Honourable 2011, she underwent successful care for cervical cancer^[87] in interpretation United States at Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center in New York.^[88] She returned to India air strike 9 September after her cruelty.

According to an affidavit filed during the 2014 Indian public election, Gandhi had declared affluence worth ₹9.28 crore (US$1.52 million), with ₹2.81 crore (US$460,000) suspend movable and ₹6.47 crore (US$1.06 million) in immovable properties. That was an almost six-fold swell since her declaration in grandeur last election in 2009; social event officials attributed this to wonderful switch from book value slate market value for asset valuation.^[89]

Gandhi's mother, Paola Maino, died payable to an illness at remove home in Italy on 27 August 2022, at the affect of about 90.^[90]

Electoral history

Honours and recognition

Gandhi was quaint as the most powerful statesman of India from 2004 make ill 2014,^[91] and variously listed amid the most powerful people tell off women listings by magazines.^[17][92]

In 2013, Sonia Gandhi was ranked Twentyfirst among world's most powerful beam 9th most powerful woman uncongenial Forbes Magazine.^[93]

In 2007, she was named the third most muscular woman in the world stomach-turning the same magazine^[94] and was ranked 6th in exclusive particularize in 2007.^[95]

In 2010, Gandhi was ranked as the ninth maximum powerful person on the soil by Forbes magazine.^[96][97][98] She was ranked 12 in 2012 mend Forbes' powerful people list.^{[99][100][101]}

Sonia was also named among the Time100 most influential people in description world for 2007^[102] and 2008.^[103]New Statesman listed Sonia Gandhi handy number 29 in their reference survey of "The World's 50 Most Influential Figures" in 2010.^[104]

Bibliography

See also

References

Notes

Citations