6. Sonia Gandhi may have been oblivious of her political skills but her party had faith in her. Within 62 days of joining as a primary member, she was offered the party President post which she accepted.
Then she went on to contest her first Lok Sabha Elections in 1999. She contested from both Bellary (Karnataka) and Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
Sonia Gandhi won both the seats. Sonia Gandhi defeated Sushma Swaraj from Bellary. Even then Sushma was a powerful leader. Sonia decided to keep her husband's constituency.
In 1999 she was made Leader of Opposition when Atal Behari Vajpayee's government came to power.