Sonia Gandhi flying to US for medical check-up

NEW DELHI // The head of India's ruling party, Sonia Gandhi, is to fly to the United States for a medical check-up.

Her trip comes a week after she was hospitalised in New Delhi.

Ms Gandhi, India's most powerful politician, travelled to the United States in 2011 for surgery on an undisclosed condition and then remained out of the public eye for three months.

"Her going to the US for medical check-up is due," a senior party leader told the Press Trust of India late on Sunday.

Ms Gandhi, 66, last had a check-up in the US in February and also travelled there in September last year, PTI reported.

She was admitted to hospital last week after falling ill during a debate in parliament on crucial legislation.

Party colleagues said she had been suffering from a fever and was exhausted after days of negotiating the successful passage of a landmark food welfare law.

Her health and private life are closely guarded by her advisers and she rarely speaks to the press.

In 2011, a news magazine report said she had undergone surgery for cancer, but the illness has never been disclosed officially.