Nehru-Gandhi family

The Nehru-Gandhi (नेहरू-गान्धी परिवार) family is a political dynasty in India, which has been dominant in the Indian National Congress for much of India's independent history. Three members of the family have been Prime Minister of India, and two of these have been assassinated. A fourth member of the family, Sonia Gandhi, is President of the Congress party and was Leader of the Opposition from 1999-2004.

Other Members

Arun Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi's cousin, was Minister for Power and then Minister for Internal Security in Gandhi's government, but later defected to the rival Janata Dal.

Related Topics:
Arun Nehru - Janata Dal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After Rajiv Gandhi's death, the Congress was led by P. V. Narasimha Rao, but the party loyalists always wanted a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family to lead the party. Despite her reluctance, Sonia Gandhi was eventually persuaded to accept the leadership in 1998. Despite the fact that she is not of Indian birth, Sonia was eventually accepted by the Congress's traditional base among the rural poor and won the May 2004 elections. However, she later declined the Prime Ministerial position, passing it on to Dr. Manmohan Singh. At these elections Rahul Gandhi was elected to the Parliament for the first time, representing a fifth generation of the family in politics.

Related Topics:
P. V. Narasimha Rao - 1998 - 2004 - Manmohan Singh

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sanjay Gandhi's widow Maneka and their son Varun were excluded from power in the Congress after Sanjay's death, and are now members of the BJP.

Related Topics:
Maneka - Varun

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~