Sonia Gandhi in ICU after successful surgery

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday afternoon said party president Sonia Gandhi underwent a successful surgery for an undisclosed illness. The party statement on her health condition did not disclose details about the ailment or the hospital and country where the surgery was performed.

The statement issued by party general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said Sonia was recovering in an intensive care unit after a successful surgery. It added that her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and son-in-law Robert Vadra were with her. In the statement, Sonia’s family also requested that her privacy be respected. “This is a personal matter that pertains to her health and medical treatment. Her family requests that her privacy be respected,” Dwivedi said.

A statement issued by Sonia on Thursday had said that the party will be run by a four-member group comprising her son Rahul, defence minister AK Antony, Ahmed Patel and Dwivedi.

The four leaders have been performing key functions in the organisation in the past. Antony and Patel have been working as a link between the party and the government. Antony, those familar with the functioning of the party establishment say, has been her chief interlocutor whenever the party and the government are at a variance. Patel has been her pointsman on all matters concerning the government and the party. His style of working has endeared him to the party president and he is part of every strategy session. Dwivedi is in the group as he is the general secretary in charge of the organisation.