Gandhi, 65, is among the five Indian women who have beennamed in the 'World's 100 Most Powerful Women' list released by Forbes today.She was ranked 7th last year.
Giving Gandhi company is Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo IndraNooyi who was ranked at 12th followed by Cisco Systems Chief Technology andStrategy Officer Padmasree Warrior at 58th place, ICICI Bank Managing Directorand CEO Chanda Kochhar at 59th and Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw at 80thrank.
Forbes said Gandhi the "one-time heir to theNehru-Gandhi political dynasty", successfully underwent a surgery lastyear and was "back in fighting spirit last month when she publiclyreprimanded a fellow parliamentarian during session who had criticised herparty's handling of this summer's rioting in Assam."
The longest serving chief in the Congress party's history,Gandhi has had to defend herself and the party after a spate of key assemblyelections this year, blaming the drubbing on weak candidates and state partyorganisations.
"Lauded for overseeing heavy economic growth, she isalso criticized for tolerating political corruption and failing to forgeconnections with India's fastest-growing demographic--younger voters," thepublication said.
An avid scholar of the arts, Gandhi holds a degree in oilpainting conservation.
Merkel occupied the spot of the world's most powerful womanfor the second year in a row. Calling her the "Iron Lady" of Europe,Forbes said she is the lead player in the eurozone economic drama thatcontinues to threaten global markets.
"As Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal have teetered onthe brink of an economic collapse, she has vowed to do everything in her powerto preserve the 17-country European Union," Forbes said.
