The stage is set for formal declaration of Sonia Gandhi to be elected as the President of the Congress party for a record fourth time in a row. Except for 2000, Sonia Gandhi was elected unopposed twice earlier and she has been steering the party ever since 1998 after she replaced Sita Ram Kesri. Briefing media, Chairman of the Central Election Authority of the 125 year old party Oscar Fernandes, said the official announcement will be made Friday evening. AIR Correspondent reports, Mrs Sonia joined politics after a lot of persuasion but once she took over the reins of the Congress party she has not looked back in her political career. Except in 2000 when Jitendra Prasad, threw his hat in the ring only to lose to her, she has been elected unopposed twice earlier and this is third time that no candidate has entered the fray for this post. After she led the congress to victory in 2004, Mrs Sonia Gandhi refused the offer by the UPA to become the prime minister and continued to lead the party. Once reluctant entrant to politics, Mrs is the longest running President of the oldest party of the country and will be lead the congress for the record fourth time in a row.