Sonia Gandhi in Malda (West Bengal) remembers late Congress leader ABA Gani Khan Choudhary

Congress President and UPA Chairperson visited Malda in West Bengal to attend the function for laying foundation stone of a Technical institute named after late Congress leader ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the chief guest on the occasion. "You may be remembering that I had promised in April 2008, during my visit to Malda, a technical institute in the memory of legendary Congress leader ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury. Mr Ghani Khan Choudhury was a great Congress leader who was committed to secularism, democracy and deeply adhered to Congress' policies and ideals. He was very close to our legendary leader late Indira Gandhi Ji. He was well aware of what all to be done for the development in the region and earned the love, respect and affection of the people. He successively won the elections from here and maintained integrity and honesty in public life and thus earned the respects of the people too. I pay respect to that great personality" said Sonia Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi and her successful journey as Congress President

After three continuous in 1996, 1998 and 1999, Sonia Gandhi played a pivotal role in bringing the Congress party back to power in 2004 and since then the Congress has successfully led a coalition government at the Centre and is in power in 13 states. It was because of her persistent intervention and guidance the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre framed some land mark polices like Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, the Right to Education and the Right to Information. Women empowerment has always been her focus and she was instrumental for many polices by the Centre in that direction. The mid-day meal scheme in government schools is yet another example for her pro-poor approach. Now the government is ready with Food Security Bill, another dream project of Sonia Gandhi. She always argued for inclusive growth and insisted for special care to youth, women, minorities, tribals and other most backward classes. There is her mark in the latest Congress-led Centre government programme, the Direct cash transfer (DBT) in which the money meant for the poor will directly reach the beneficiaries bank accounts through Aadhar card.

Sonia Gandhi completes 15 successful years as Congress President

It is a fact that the Congress was in disarray when Sonia Gandhi took over. But after that she has been able to establish unity and authority in the party and now Congress has regained its political domination across the country. Sonia Gandhi has also been credited for taking the Congress to the left-of-the-centre position and for crafting good and effective coalitions. Her legacy is bringing Congress back to secular position with focus on welfare and distribution that helped the party to regain its dominance in the national polity in 2004. It is a known fact that Sonia Gandhi, after the assassination of her husband and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, had turned down repeated requests by Congress workers, leaders and followers to join the party, till 1997. And finally, on March 14, 1998, she was elected as the Congress President. The biggest challenge for her then was to rejuvenate the party that had crumbled and split over the years and it is history now that she could accomplish the task effectively and efficiently.

Sonia Gandhi's 15 years as Congress President

Though Congress faced electoral debacle initially, the party under the energetic leadership of Sonia Gandhi could come back with a bang in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress emerged as the single largest party and along with Left, and other like-minded parties formed the UPA government. Unperturbed by the foreign origin issue raked by her opponents, Sonia Gandhi had succeeded in demolishing BJP led NDA's "India Shining" campaigns with the "aam aadmi" slogan of the Congress.

Congress reached new heights in 15 years with Sonia Gandhi as President

The important milestone in her political career is her refusing the PM post. She stunned the entire world by declining to take up the top post. "Power in itself has never attracted me, nor has position been my goal," she had then said. The renunciation of power -- a move many described as one of her biggest political masterstrokes-- solidified Sonia Gandhi's position. Under her leadership, the UPA retained power in 2009 general elections with the Congress winning 206 seats, the highest by any party since 1991.

Sonia Gandhi at Bhagat Phool Singh University convocation function

International Women's day, inaugurated a Women Medical College in Haryana. She dedicated the Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women to the nation on Friday at Khanpur Kalan in Haryana's Sonipat district. She also attended the first convocation ceremony at the University.

Sonia Gandhi talks about the UPA's policy for farmers' welfare

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi explains about the various welfare measures taken by the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre. She explained about the loan-waiving off policy for the poor farmers which helped them in a great extent.

Sonia Gandhi in Meghalaya; addresses Congress election rally

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Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while addressing a Congress rally as part of her campaign for the upcoming Meghalaya polls highlighted the achievements of the Congress-led Meghalaya government as well as the UPA Government at the centre. Sonia Gandhi said that Meghalaya is one of the fast growing states not only in the North Eastern region but across the country.

Sonia Gandhi delivers convocation address at Aligarh Muslim University

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Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at Aligarh Muslim University, for over a century, has made its name as a strong pillar of nationalist and secular education by being a steadfast inculcator of modern education and has kept alive the principles of its founder by following the path shown by him. The greatest asset of Indian republic is unity in diversity and its ‘ganga-jamuni tehzeeb’. AMU is the eptome of this ‘tehzeeb’. This university’s commitment regarding ‘unity in diversity’ is not just an act of tokenism but a truth evolving from the experience of its founders. It is proof of the fact that unity in diversity is not just a hollow slogan but a pledge and those principles that are associated with the foundation of this university and get reflected in its teaching, outlook as well as its day to day life. I am aware of the fact that case regarding minority status of AMU is pending in Supreme Court. I assure you that I would make every possible effort to help maintain the strong reputation of this great university. Vice Chancellor talked to me about improving the infrastructure of the university.

Sonia Gandhi congratulated Union Health Ministry for its initiatives for healthcare measures

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi thanked the officials for the launch of the new health care scheme and promised the people that the Congress-led UPA government will always be committed towards their welfare.

Sonia Gandhi specially addresses the tribal groups and talks about their needs

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi assured tribal groups that the government was committed to safeguard their rights by giving the example of Forests rights act which safeguard their rights to use forest products. She also felt great happiness by seeing the enthusiasm shown by assembled children for the launch of scheme.

Sonia Gandhi shares the plight of women

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi highlighted the need to raise the status of women. She also listed the measures taken and laws enacted, like Domestic Violence bill and the recently passed ordinance, to fight the crime against women.

Sonia Gandhi talks about the revolutionary Food Security bill

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi spoke that she was aware of many challenges like malnourishment. She besides highlighting the interconnected issue of woman and infant health discussed food security bill and other schemes devised to fight the scourge of malnourishment.

Sonia Gandhi doesn’t want even a single child to be deprived of education

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi explains the benefits of right to education act as well as ICDS and Mid-day meal scheme in improving the health and knowledge of children. She also lists the measures to prevent the sexual abuse and crime against minors.

Sonia Gandhi took pride on defeating Polio under the UPA rule

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi called the schemes a link between the villages and the administration and explained how it would train lakhs of uneducated women to become nurses and besides earning a living, contribute in country’s healthcare programs.

Sonia Gandhi: Congress to ensure availability of funds of healthcare schemes

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi stresses the importance of children in shaping the future of the country. She also describes the other UPA flagship programs and the amount of funds allocated for improving women and child healthcare.

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram launched by Sonia Gandhi

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi congratulated the august assembly of ministers as well as the children and public for the successful launch of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram. She also assured the people that the scheme will go a long way in improving the children and women healthcare.

Sonia Gandhi kicks-off new healthcare scheme - Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram in Maharashtra

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Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today launched Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), a new children health care project initiative in Palghar, a tribal block in Thane district of Maharashtra. Sonia Gandhi expressed hope that the scheme will prove beneficial for the children.

Sonia Gandhi addresses AICC session at Jaipur

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Congress President Sonia Gandhi is addressing the audience on the concluding day of party's chintan shivir at Jaipur. She urged the partymen to work as a unit to help Congress to retain power in 2014. She also listed out Congress led UPA's welfare measures and asked party leaders to explain people about the achievements.

Sonia Gandhi delivering the opening address at Congress' Chintan Shivir at Jaipur

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Congress President Sonia Gandhi delivered the opening address at the Congress' Chintan shivir at Jaipur and said that Congress is the only pan-Indian party with a visible and viable position in every village. Congress articulate the concerns of all sections of the society like Dalits and women, she added.