Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi's mother Paola Maino passed away at her residence in Italy on August 27, informed party communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh. "Sonia Gandhi's mother, Paola Maino, passed away at her home in Italy on Saturday, August 27, 2022. The funeral took place yesterday," Jairam Ramesh tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to offer their condolences to the Congress chief.
"Condolences to Sonia Gandhi Ji on the passing away of her mother, Paola Maino. May her soul rest in peace. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the entire family," PM Modi tweeted.
Several Congress leaders and other politicians took to Twitter to express grief.
"I convey my heartfelt condolences to the entire family and stand alongside in this time of grief and sorrow," wrote Congress leader Neeraj Kundan.
Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV also expressed grief. "I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the passing away of Paola Maino, mother of Sonia Gandhi Ji on August 27, 2022, at her home in Italy. I offer my thoughts and prayers to her. May her soul rest in peace," he tweeted.
The Congress president had left on August 23 to visit her ailing mother, who was in her 90s. She is also slated to undergo medical checkup and treatment. Her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has accompanied her. Rahul Gandhi is supposed to return early and address a Congress rally in the national capital on September 4.
Rahul and Priyanka have visited their grandmother a number of times over the past few years.
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Sonia Gandhi was born on December 9, 1946, in a small village near Vicenza, Italy, to Stefano and Paola Maino. She was raised in a traditional Roman Catholic Christian family. Sonia was the second child. She has two sisters Anuska and Nadia.
Sonia Gandhi took over the reins of the Congress for the second time after the party suffered its second consecutive defeat in Lok Sabha election in 2019. The Congress presidential polls will be held on October 17. Counting of votes, if necessary, and the declaration of results will be on October 19. The party last held an election for the post in November 2000.