Indian main opposition Congress extends Sonia Gandhi's chief term

India's main opposition Congress party Tuesday retained Sonia Gandhi as its chief for one more year, putting to rest all rumors of her son and Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi taking over the position from her.

The Congress Working Committee, the political outfit's final policy making body, passed a resolution extending 68-year-old Sonia Gandhi's tenure as President by another year, sources said.

Her 45-year-old son was tipped to take over as Congress chief but the plans have been shelved for the time being as Rahul Gandhi is currently devoting his attention to revitalize the party after its crushing defeat in last year's general elections.

Sonia Gandhi, the widow of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and daughter-in-law of the country's first woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has been at the helm of the Congress party since 1998, thus becoming the party's longest serving chief.

Source: XINHUA