New Delhi, August 4: Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of United Progressive Alliance (UPA), underwent a successful surgery in the United States for an unknown medical condition and will be unavailable in India for two to three weeks, Congress General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi told reporters in a Thursday news conference.

“On the advise of her doctors, she has travelled abroad and she is likely to be away for two-three weeks,” he said.

“The surgery is successful and her condition is satisfactory” Said Congress General Secretary, Janardan Dwivedi.

However, the reason is not clear, why the Congress president decided to travel overseas for medical treatment.

Sonia Gandhi has emerged as a powerful face in Indian Politics and led the congress party and came to power in 2004. Though, she refused to take Prime Minister’s post but she has an enormous influence over the government agenda. 

Now, the controversial Lokpal bill is in Parliament and Congress president is away from India. In absence of Mrs Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi, Defense minister A.K. Antony and political secretary Ahmed Patel will look after the party affairs.

Sonia Gandhi, 64, became the party leader in 1999 when Congress was in opposition. She took the Congress from opposition to ruling party in 2004 but refused to take Prime Minister’s post, but stepped aside for Manmohan Singh.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has wished for speedy recovery of Congress party president Sonia Gandhi.

"Have come to know through media about Mrs Sonia Gandhi's surgery. I pray for her speedy recovery and good health," the BJP leader and Gujarat CM tweets on Twitter.