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Unwell Sonia undergoes surgery in US; bigger party role for Rahul
Anita Katyal
Our Political Correspondent

n The AICC chief is expected to be away for a month n Congress is tight-lipped about the nature of ailment and where she was having treatment n Rahul Gandhi, AK Antony, Ahmed Patel and Janardhan Dwivedi to look after party affairs in her absence

New Delhi, August 4
Congress president Sonia Gandhi today underwent a successful surgery in a US hospital for an undisclosed ailment which will keep her out of India for a month during which the party affairs will looked after by Rahul Gandhi-led four-member group.

The party's announcement in New Delhi that its 64-year-old leader is unwell caught the country by total surprise because there was no no inkling that she had travelled abroad.

A statement on her health is expected to be issued tomorrow either by the family or by the doctors.

Sonia has constituted a four-member group, including son Rahul Gandhi, to oversee the functioning of the party in her absence. Other members of the group are Defence Minister AK Antony, AICC general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi and Ahmed Patel, Congress president’s political secretary.

Reading from a prepared text, Dwivedi told reporters, “Sonia Gandhi has been recently diagnosed with a medical condition that requires surgery. On the advice of doctors, she has travelled abroad.”

Dwivedi then went on to read out Sonia Gandhi’s undated statement in which she named the four-member to look after “all matters relating to the party.”

Having given the bare facts about her imminent surgery, Dwivedi remained tight-lipped about the details of Sonia Gandhi’s “medical condition”. Refusing to clarify why Congress President needed to go to the US for treatment, Dwivedi resolutely pointed to his prepared text which said she had travelled abroad on the advice of her doctors. He was also silent about where she was undergoing treatment in the US.

Congress sources said she came down with viral fever last week on her return from Dhaka. She is stated to have left for the US earlier this week with son Rahul and daughter Priyanka. Party sources said Sonia Gandhi had visited the US earlier for medical investigations and that the surgery had been planned. The Congress President has not been keeping well in the past and had been admitted to the Ganga Ram Hospital for a week in December 2007 when she had undergone treatment for an undisclosed medical ailment.

While speculation is rife about the nature of Sonia Gandhi’s medical condition, her decision to constitute a four-member group has set tongues wagging about the significance of its membership as it indicates who her trusted ones are.

Rahul Gandhi’s inclusion is significant but not surprising as he is seen as the party’s “heir apparent” and PM-in waiting. As Sonia Gandhi’s low-key and discreet political secretary, Ahmed Patel has been her “eyes and ears” for the past several years.

Not only does he serve as a bridge between the party and the government, Patel is privy to all key organisational decisions, emerging as an important power centre in the Congress and the UPA government. Defence Minister AK Antony’s proximity to the Congress president is well known. He enjoys her trust, has served on important party committees and is always called upon when key party decisions are to be made.

AICC general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi’s inclusion in the group is most significant, pipping another 10 Janpath favourite Oscar Fernandes.