Sonia Gandhi quits Lok Sabha over office-of-profit furore

23 March 2006

New Delhi: Congress parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi today announced her resignation from the Lok Sabha. She also announced her resignation as chairperson of the National Advisory Council on the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the ruling UPA government.She will, however, remain leader of the Congress party.

"Some people have been trying to create an atmosphere as if the government and parliament are being used to favour me. This has hurt me very much," Ms Gandhi explained, reading from a written statement at her 10, Janpath residence in New Delhi. "I am in politics and public life, not for my selfish ends but to serve the people of the country and to protect secular ideals," she said, pointing out that her resignations were "in keeping with my political principles and beliefs".

However, she made it clear that she would contest the by-election from her Rae Bareily constituency. "I have full faith that my brothers and sisters in Rae Bareily and the whole nation will understand my feelings," the Congress president said.

Earlier, on Monday, the Congress said that Sonia Gandhi was not holding an office of profit as chairperson of the National Advisory Council (NAC). "The NAC chairperson neither holds an office nor receives any profit; nor is it under the government in any manner,'''' said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi.

He said the NAC does not constitute an office of profit, as it is an advisory body whose recommendations are not binding. Her appointment as NAC chairperson only gives Ms Gandhi cabinet rank and does not confer any salary or perks to her, he contended.

Jaya Bachchan was earlier disqualified as a member of the Rajya Sabha on March 17, with effect from July 14, 2004, the day she became UP Film Development Corporation chief. This may mean that all her speeches, interventions, questions and acts as an MP from that date on can be expunged from the house records, as if she was not a member after that date. Though Section 107 of the Representation of Peoples Act states that when a high court unseats a member, all actions remain valid, there is no precedent till date of the President disqualifying a member with retrospective effect.