Sonia Gandhi is unwell; in US for surgery

Mtoday/ PTI

New Delhi, August 4:  Congress President Sonia Gandhi is unwell and is currently in America for treatment, said her party today. She is likely to be operated on soon. The party did not indicate any other details of Mrs Gandhi’s health.

 

 

Congress spokesman Janardhan Dwivedi told the media, "Mrs Gandhi was recently diagnosed with a medical condition and upon the advice of her doctors, has travelled abroad for surgery."

Sources say her children, Priyanka and Rahul, are with her. Mr Driwvedi said that Mrs Gandhi could be away for upto three weeks, and that a caretaker team has been appointed to "look after the affairs of the Congress party". In a letter to her party, Mrs Gandhi said the four members of this group are Defence Minister AK Antony, Mr Dwivedi, Mrs Gandhi’s son and party General Secretary Rahul, and her political advisor Ahmed Patel.

Rahul Gandhi is expected to return to India after Mrs Gandhi’s operation. The fact that he has been named in the caretaker group for the Congress is being read by many as a response to the recent expression within the party for Mr Gandhi to play a larger role. A few weeks ago, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that he would be happy to step down for Mr Gandhi, but that the party had not discussed this possibility.

Who’s been left out of the caretaker group is noteworthy and is likely to cause much angst and discussion within the Congress. Digvijaya Singh and Pranab Mukherjee, both known for their proximity to the Gandhis, have not been included.