SMT. SONIA GANDHI

Srimati Sonia Gandhi - mother of two children, a devoted housewife, patron of many national trusts, museums and childwelfare associations and a keen student of Indian history and culture - entered public life after seven long years of public demand and persuation by Congress workers after her husband's demise, She lost Rajiv Gandhi on the night of May 21, 1991 in a terrorist camaflague. She campaigned vigorously for Congress on the eve of 1998 Parliamentary elections and was elected Party President in April, 1998.

Before entering politics Smt. Sonia had spend considerable part of her time in the work of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. It was during her association with the Foundation she devoted special attention to the welfare of women, children and disabled and application of Science and Technology for the cause of common man.

She is also a patron of the prestigious Round Square (International Group of Schools based on the principles of education of Dr. Kust Hahn) and Indian Member, International Advisory Group of the United Nations (set up to mark 50th Anniversary of UNO).

Yet another area of service of Smt. Sonia is working for the cause of the weaker sections, SCs and STs, minorities, poor and orphan children. She is the Chairperson of the Indian Council for Child Welfare, She also presides over the activities of Nehru Trust for Cambridge University.

As Congress President Smt. Sonia supervised the sincere efforts of the Congress Party to provide relief to the victims during the recent Gujarat Earthquake.

Smt. Sonia was elected to Loksabha in October, 1999 from Amethi Parliamentary Constituency in Uttar Pradesh with a record majority of more than three hundred thousand votes. She is the leader of opposition in Loksabha since then. She would be presiding over the Plenary Session of the Indian National Congress March, 17 & 18, 2001 at Bangalore.