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Indian National Congress' saviour-in-chief Sonia Gandhi returns to party helm

The 72-year-old has been made interim president barely 20 months after she voluntarily relinquished the top post in favour of son Rahul Gandhi who refused to continue on as Congress chief after a humiliating 2019 general election defeat.
Having earned the distinction of being the longest-serving Congress president, Sonia Gandhi is once again at the helm to steer her party out of troubled waters. (Photo | AICC Twitter)
Having earned the distinction of being the longest-serving Congress president, Sonia Gandhi is once again at the helm to steer her party out of troubled waters. (Photo | AICC Twitter)
PTI
Updated on: 
2 min read
Sonia Gandhi, 72, has been made interim president barely 20 months after she voluntarily relinquished the top post in favour of son Rahul Gandhi who refused to continue on as Congress chief after a humiliating 2019 general election defeat. (Photo | Shekhar Yadav, EPS)
Sonia Gandhi, 72, has been made interim president barely 20 months after she voluntarily relinquished the top post in favour of son Rahul Gandhi who refused to continue on as Congress chief after a humiliating 2019 general election defeat. (Photo | Shekhar Yadav, EPS)
For the Congress Working Committee (CWC) the natural choice was Sonia Gandhi, who has been the party's saviour-in-chief in times of crisis and a binding force. Critics say the development has once again highlighted how the Congress is unable to look beyond the Gandhi family when it comes to leadership.(Photo | PTI)
For the Congress Working Committee (CWC) the natural choice was Sonia Gandhi, who has been the party's saviour-in-chief in times of crisis and a binding force. Critics say the development has once again highlighted how the Congress is unable to look beyond the Gandhi family when it comes to leadership.(Photo | PTI)
With no timeline set for party elections, Sonia is likely to continue in the top post in coming months. In her 19-year stint as Congress chief, Sonia Gandhi was hailed for deft handling of party intrigues and judgment that gave the party two consecutive wins at the Centre and several in states. (Photo | PTI)
With no timeline set for party elections, Sonia is likely to continue in the top post in coming months. In her 19-year stint as Congress chief, Sonia Gandhi was hailed for deft handling of party intrigues and judgment that gave the party two consecutive wins at the Centre and several in states. (Photo | PTI)
In her decision to accept the CWC's unanimous request to lead the 134-year-old party, Sonia Gandhi has displayed courage given her continuing frail health, sources said. In her political innings defined by a successful coalition experiment in the form of UPA, Sonia Gandhi has always credited mother-in-law and former prime minister Indira Gandhi for her achievements. IN PIC: Indira Gandhi with Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia and their children (Photo | PTI)
In her decision to accept the CWC's unanimous request to lead the 134-year-old party, Sonia Gandhi has displayed courage given her continuing frail health, sources said. In her political innings defined by a successful coalition experiment in the form of UPA, Sonia Gandhi has always credited mother-in-law and former prime minister Indira Gandhi for her achievements. IN PIC: Indira Gandhi with Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia and their children (Photo | PTI)
Though the UPA floundered in its second innings starting 2009, Sonia Gandhi helmed the coalition from the shadows, often inviting the criticism of running a cabinet parallel to that of former prime minister Manmohan Singh who led the Congress-led alliance government. Sonia Gandhi lost no time to resign from the Lok Sabha when the office of profit controversy gripped her over her role as chairperson of the National Advisory Council during UPA-1. She returned to the Lok Sabha with a higher margin in a re-election. (Photo | Shekhar Yadav, EPS)
Though the UPA floundered in its second innings starting 2009, Sonia Gandhi helmed the coalition from the shadows, often inviting the criticism of running a cabinet parallel to that of former prime minister Manmohan Singh who led the Congress-led alliance government. Sonia Gandhi lost no time to resign from the Lok Sabha when the office of profit controversy gripped her over her role as chairperson of the National Advisory Council during UPA-1. She returned to the Lok Sabha with a higher margin in a re-election. (Photo | Shekhar Yadav, EPS)
Gradual decline in Congress electoral fortunes under Rahul Gandhi, desertions from Congress to BJP, deepening division in opposition ranks and a surging BJP were some factors that seemed to have weighed on Sonia Gandhi's mind when she accepted the CWC suggestion on Saturday. Her return coincides with a critical election season with polls in Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra due later this year.(Photo | PTI)
Gradual decline in Congress electoral fortunes under Rahul Gandhi, desertions from Congress to BJP, deepening division in opposition ranks and a surging BJP were some factors that seemed to have weighed on Sonia Gandhi's mind when she accepted the CWC suggestion on Saturday. Her return coincides with a critical election season with polls in Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra due later this year.(Photo | PTI)
After Congress' lackluster performance in the first session of the new Parliament, party leaders hope Sonia Gandhi's leadership will reinvigorate the cadre and bind the ranks that have reeled in a leadership vacuum after Rahul Gandhi resigned as party president on May 25. It is also felt Sonia Gandhi's return will give reason for a divided opposition to come together to fight the BJP. (Photo | PTI)
After Congress' lackluster performance in the first session of the new Parliament, party leaders hope Sonia Gandhi's leadership will reinvigorate the cadre and bind the ranks that have reeled in a leadership vacuum after Rahul Gandhi resigned as party president on May 25. It is also felt Sonia Gandhi's return will give reason for a divided opposition to come together to fight the BJP. (Photo | PTI)
Born to Italian parents in Lusiana, Vicenza (Italy), on December 9, 1946, Sonia met late PM Rajiv Gandhi in England where she was studying. The two got married in 1968. Contemporary history recalls how she cradled Indira Gandhi's body after she was gunned down by her bodyguards, and tried to persuade her husband, who was assassinated in 1991, not to take up the PM post. (Photo | EPS)
Born to Italian parents in Lusiana, Vicenza (Italy), on December 9, 1946, Sonia met late PM Rajiv Gandhi in England where she was studying. The two got married in 1968. Contemporary history recalls how she cradled Indira Gandhi's body after she was gunned down by her bodyguards, and tried to persuade her husband, who was assassinated in 1991, not to take up the PM post. (Photo | EPS)
As Sonia begins her fresh innings, her toughest so far, she is bound to find herself in familiar territory – a demoralised and desertion-hit Congress, a disunited opposition and a surging BJP. (Photo | AFP)
As Sonia begins her fresh innings, her toughest so far, she is bound to find herself in familiar territory – a demoralised and desertion-hit Congress, a disunited opposition and a surging BJP. (Photo | AFP)
Rahul Gandhi
Congress
Sonia gandhi
CWC
Congress President
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