The Congress party also publicly praised Sonia Gandhi's leadership.
PM Modi Greets Sonia Gandhi on 79th Birthday as Congress Hails Her ‘Visionary’ Leadership
On December 9, 2025, Narendra Modi penned a note for Sonia Gandhi, the former president of the Indian National Congress (INC), on the occasion of her 79th birthday. He posted on a social media platform, X: “Birthday greetings to Smt Sonia Gandhi Ji. May she be blessed with a long life and good health.”
The Congress party also publicly praised Sonia Gandhi’s leadership. The party described her as a “visionary” leader, highlighting her influence on Indian politics and governance. Congress particularly credited her tenure as chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for several landmark rights-based laws, including MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and the Right to Information Act. These measures, according to Congress, brought many changes, such as employment generation, education, transparency, and dignity, to millions across India.
Additionally, Congress highlighted Gandhi’s lifelong commitment to social justice, women’s empowerment, and inclusive growth. The party statement said that her “vision… continues to uplift millions all across the country” and attributed it to her enduring dedication, grit, and service-orientated politics.
Sonia Gandhi served as Congress president from 1998 to 2017; it made her the longest-serving president in the party’s history. She also held the position of interim president from 2019 to 2022. In June 2024, she was re-elected as chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party. Her family remains prominent in the party: her son Rahul Gandhi is the current Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is a general secretary of Congress and is a Member of Parliament.
the birthday greeting from Modi, who is a leader of the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as a "moment of political civility" and a display of cross-party courtesy. Meanwhile, Congress’s tribute highlights the party’s fond regard for Sonia Gandhi’s legacy, the presentation of her leadership’s social impact and her lasting influence on India’s political and social landscape, and her importance in shaping the party’s modern identity.
Source: Times of India
