India Congress party worker builds Sonia Gandhi temple...

A temple with an idol of Sonia Gandhi, the head of India's ruling Congress party, is being built by a supporter in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

P Shankar Rao, a former minister, said the shrine with a 9ft (2.7m) idol of Ms Gandhi was his tribute to his leader.

The 67-year-old Italian-born Mrs Gandhi is one of the country's most powerful politicians.

She belongs to the influential Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, three of whose members have been Indian prime ministers.

Mr Rao told the BBC that he was building the temple in Mahbubnagar district to "thank" Mrs Gandhi for her party's decision last July to split southern Andhra Pradesh state and create a new state of Telangana. The temple will also be named after Mrs Gandhi, he said.

With a population of 35 million, Telangana comprises 10 of Andhra Pradesh's 23 districts including Hyderabad, India's sixth biggest city. Full story...

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