The decision by Italian-born Sonia Gandhi to re-enter active politics in India revitalised the Congress Party. But who is Sonia Gandhi? And what motivates a woman who is best known for her reclusive style and distaste for the political life? Kumar Malhotra reports.

Sonia Gandhi comes from fairly modest origins. Her father was a builder in a small town near Turin in Italy.

She met her future husband, Rajiv Gandhi, while she was an Italian language student in England, and the couple married in February 1968.

"I became part of India 30 years ago when I entered Indira Gandhi's home as her eldest son's bride", she says in response to those who have pointed to her foreign origins.

A reluctant participant

She was propelled into the forefront of the Indian political scene after the death of Rajiv's younger brother, Sanjay, in a flying accident in 1980.

Rajiv Gandhi: thrust into the limelight

Sanjay was being groomed for the leadership of the Congress Party. Now Rajiv, who seemed content to remain an airline pilot, found himself chosen as the natural successor when Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984.

It was with reluctance that Sonia campaigned alongside her husband, becoming an Indian national, adopting the sari and beginning to learn Hindi.

In a book published after Rajiv's death, she wrote: "For the first time, there was tension between Rajiv and me. I fought like a tigress - for him, for us and our children, above all, for our freedom."

Rajiv was elected Prime Minister on what was widely seen as a sympathy vote after the assassination of his mother.

But tragedy was to strike again in 1991 when Rajiv was blown up by a suicide bomber while campaigning in south India.

Sonia stays in the background

Questions as to whether she would continue to take an active role in Indian politics began almost immediately after the assassination of Rajiv, with suggestions that she should stand for Prime Minister.

Rajiv's death left Congress demoralised

Until recently, Sonia had kept herself and her children at a distance from active politics.

And she stayed like that after Rajiv's death, only occasionally breaking her silence.

"I just don't like being in the limelight," she once said. "It's just my habit."

Indian newspapers dubbed her an enigma and described her as "sphinx-like".

However, she has often graced ceremonial occasions, most memorably at a nationwide Congress Party conference in June 1996.

She stole the limelight at a party rally intended to mark what would have been Rajiv's 50th birthday simply by turning up while, politely but firmly, resisting demands to take a seat on the podium.

Commentators have noted that while she has spent the last six years in the political wilderness, she kept up contacts with the Congress Party establishment, making a habit of inviting senior figures over for tea.

The Gandhi name still respected

In India, the Gandhi name still has some magic for the masses.

Crowds have been heard to shout "Sonia Gandhi, Zindabad (Long live Sonia Gandhi!)!" Almost every visitor of importance to Delhi pays a courtesy call at Number 10, Janpath - the home of the Gandhis where Sonia has continued to live.

The Congress Party needs her help: it has suffered major setbacks including the resignations of several senior party leaders, including two former ministers.

Sonia Gandhi's entry into the election campaign helped revitalise the Congress Party, and saved it from total humiliation in the vote.

Congress turned to her in defeat

The decision by the party hierarchy to make her president of the party was greeted with joy by her supporters, but upset the veteran leader, Sitaram Kesri. Although the post was largely organisational, it gave her vast influence.

Soon after the elections ended in defeat for the Congress party, it also agreed to make her leader, and she was appointed nearly unanimously in early April.

Priyanka Gandhi: her mother's hope

Commentators are divided on why exactly Sonia Gandhi has decided to re-enter the political fray.

Some believe she is keen to retain political clout and so prevent embarrassing revelations about alleged corruption during the last years of Rajiv's term of office.