Sonia Gandhi has retired from her post as the leader of India's main opposition Congress party.
Rahul Gandhi, Sonia’s son, has been elected unopposed as the new president and will officially take charge today, 15 December.
Mrs Gandhi, 71, has been the party president since 1998 and was elected to parliament in 1999.
She entered politics in 1994, three years after her husband, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was assassinated.
She will not be retiring from politics altogether, as she will continue to remain as a member of parliament.