Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi is an Italian-born Indian politician who is widely regarded as one of the most powerful politicians in India and among the most powerful women in the world.

Political Wife

December 9, 1946

78

Sonia Gandhi, an Italian-born Indian politician, is considered one of India’s most influential political figures and is frequently ranked among the world’s most powerful women. She held the position of Indian National Congress (Congress Party) president from 1998 to 2017 and again from 2019 to 2022. Moreover, she has been the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, a coalition of center-left parties, since 2004. Her leadership and influence have made her a prominent figure in Indian politics.

Some of Sonia Gandhi’s notable accomplishments include:
1. Serving as the chairperson of the Indian Parliament’s United Progressive Alliance.
2. Being the former wife of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
3. Becoming the President of the Indian National Congress party in 1998.
4. Studying English through the Bell Educational Trust in Cambridge, England.
5. Being ranked as the 29th most influential figure in the world by New Statesman in 2010.
6. Receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Literature in 2008.

Interestingly, there is a temple dedicated to Sonia Gandhi in the Mahbubnagar district of Telangana, built by former minister P Shankar Rao to express gratitude for her party’s decision to create a separate Telangana state. The temple features a 9ft (2.7m) idol of Sonia Gandhi as ‘Telangana Talli’ (Mother Telangana).

Sonia Gandhi’s remarkable journey in Indian politics has left a lasting impact on the country’s political landscape. Despite never holding public office in the Indian government, she is widely regarded as one of the nation’s most powerful politicians and is often included among the world’s most influential women.