SONIA Gandhi, the key powerbroker of Indian politics, returned home today after undergoing surgery in the US five weeks ago for an undisclosed condition.
Gandhi, president of the ruling Congress party, was absent during a difficult period for the government with a deadly bombing in New Delhi and the sudden emergence of a nationwide anti-corruption protest movement.
The 64-year-old widow of former premier Rajiv Gandhi is the influential patron behind Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and she is widely thought to lead the government on daily and strategic decisions.
“Sonia Gandhi arrived early this morning, she is doing fine,” Congress spokesman Janardan Dwivedi told reporters without giving further details about her recovery.
Party officials announced on August 4 that Gandhi had been operated on in the US. Since then there has been a total news blackout on her condition and even where she was admitted to hospital.
Italian-born Gandhi is often said to be preparing the ground for her only son Rahul to become prime minister at some stage after premier Dr Singh, 78, steps down.
“Sonia Gandhi’s role is substantial and strategic at both party and national level and her absence was clearly felt,” VR Raghavan, director of the Delhi Policy Group think-tank, told reporters.
“What has been missing during the last weeks was a guiding hand. She might have been tougher or more tolerant with Hazare, but without her, the government looks discordant and was pulling in different directions.”
