Daughter of Stefano (d.1983) and Paola Maino,

       Children:

1. Rahul GANDHI,  b.19 June 1970,

2. Priyanka GANDHI,   b.1972,

       Sonia Maino was born on 9 December 1946 in the town of Orbassano, near Turin.  She was taking classes to learn English in England when she met her future husband, Rajiv Gandhi, who was studying engineering at the university.  Her sister, Nadia Mario, reached New Delhi, after Vajpayee govt. fell, to be by her side amidst reports that she might soon become Indias prime minister.  She officially took charge of the Congress party in 1998 and was elected to parliament in elections in 1999.   Before the surprise 2004 election win, Mrs Gandhis future in Indian politics had looked somewhat uncertain. ...