The chief of India's ruling Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, quit
Thursday as member of parliament and a key advisory body, after
charges she had violated the constitution by holding both posts.
But the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was under no
danger, analysts said, adding that the Italian-born Gandhi would
likely return to parliament in six months after a fresh
election.
They said Gandhi had tried to pre-empt a campaign by the
opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the
controversy and claim the moral high ground. The move was also not
expected to hurt her hold over the party, they added.
"I have decided to resign from the Lok Sabha (lower house of
parliament) and the national advisory council," Gandhi told a news
conference, adding that she would contest elections again for her
parliamentary seat.
"For the last two days, some people in the country were trying
to create an impression that parliament was being misused for my
benefit," Gandhi said.
"This has hurt me. I have said before that in my political and
personal life, I have not wanted any private benefit," she said
before handing her resignation to the speaker of the lower house of
parliament.
A spokesman in the speaker's office said Gandhi's resignation
had been accepted.
India's constitution bars members of parliament from holding
what it calls an office of profit any government post that entitles
them to pay and perks. But in practice many lawmakers also serve on
official bodies outside parliament.
The controversy erupted after another member of parliament was
disqualified this month for serving as head of a state cinema
development board.
Since then, several petitions have been filed against other
members of parliament, including Gandhi, whose party came to power
at the head of a communist-backed coalition in May 2004.
About 40 other lawmakers, both in the ruling coalition and the
opposition, are believed to hold such positions.
(China Daily March 24, 2006)
