Nehru-Gandhi family is India's unofficial first political family. The family's political connection goes back to the times of Motilal Nehru who used to be a respectable and influential leader of Congress party in pre-independence era.
From Motilal Nehru, the baton passed over to Jawahar Lal Nehru who went on to become the first Prime Minister of India.
Nehru groomed his daughter Indira Gandhi for political role and she proved to be one of the most successful Prime Ministers of India.
Indira Gandhi's two sons – Sanjay and Rajiv – followed their family tradition and joined Congress. Sanjay Gandhi used to be very powerful in Congress party and he was seen as the main person who prodded Indira Gandhi to impose emergency in 1975.
Sanjay Gandhi died in an accident and that paved the way for the emergence of Rajiv Gandhi as the political heir of Nehru-Gandhi family. Rajiv Gandhi took over as the Prime Minister of the country after the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her own bodyguards in 1984.
After Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in 1991, his widow Sonia Gandhi decided against joining active politics but fate had other plans in store for her.
In the absence of leadership from Nehru-Gandhi family, Congress party's fortunes started dwindling and Sonia Gandhi was left with no option but to join active politics. A reluctant Sonia joined active politics and took over the reins of the Party.
Sonia succeeded in bringing a turnaround in Congress party's electoral fortunes as the party under UPA umbrella snatched the reins of power from BJP led NDA in 2004. Sonia Gandhi anointed Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister in the backdrop of fierce opposition from BJP and other vocal sections of the society who were completely against any foreign born person becoming the Prime Minister of the country.
The Congress-led UPA under her leadership scored a repeat victory in 2009 and will be completing its second consecutive term in 2014.
Sonia Gandhi has already declared Rahul Gandhi as the political heir of Congress party. Congress party will be fighting 2014 General Elections under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.
Sonia Gandhi's daughter, Priyanka Gandhi also takes keen interest in Indian politics but for the time being it's Rahul who is in the driver's seat.
