Sonia Gandhi

By declining the prime ministership, she created a unique niche for herself.

On 17 May 2004, the Congress president Sonia Gandhi declined the Prime Minister's post and instead nominated the former Finance Minister, Manmohan Singh to be Prime Minister. Following the death of her husband in 1991, Sonia Gandhi kept a low profile and did not enter politics until 1998.

She undertook widespread campaigning for the party in the 1998 Parliamentary elections and was elected Party President in April 1998. She was elected to the Lok Sabha in October, 1999 from Amethi Parliamentary Constituency in Uttar Pradesh with a record majority. She has also served as the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

HT Image