After the recent Supreme Court verdict paving the way for Rahul Gandhi’s return to Parliament, the Wayanad MP is all set to attend the next Lok Sabha session.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a notification announcing that Gandhi’s disqualification has been revoked and his membership restored.
The apex court, on August 4, stayed the conviction of the senior Congress leader in a 2019 criminal defamation case related to his Modi surname remark. This decision now also allows Gandhi to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The official notification of the LS secretariat read, “In view of order dated 04.08.2023 of the Supreme Court of India, the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi, notified vide Gazette Notification no. 21/4(3)/2023/TO(B) dated the 24th March, 2023 in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, has ceased to operate subject to further judicial pronouncements.”
The Supreme Court found Gandhi’s conviction was based on the trial court’s failure to provide sufficient justification for the maximum two-year punishment upon his conviction, which resulted in his disqualification from the Lower House of Parliament. The court, however, acknowledged that Gandhi’s comments were not in good taste and public figures should exercise caution when making public speeches
Soon after the court’s decision, celebrations erupted at Congress party offices across the country, and leaders of the 26-party opposition alliance INDIA also hailed the verdict. Rahul Gandhi expressed his gratitude for the support received and said, “Truth always triumphs, if not today then tomorrow or the day after.”
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra shared a quote by Gautam Buddha on Twitter, expressing gratitude to the Supreme Court for the decision. On the other hand, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya acknowledged the temporary levity in Parliament due to Gandhi’s reinstatement but emphasised that several other criminal defamation cases were still pending against him.
Rahul Gandhi is expected to speak on the ‘no-confidence motion’ against the government in the Lok Sabha, which will be discussed from August 8 to 10.
Rahul Gandhi’s restoration as a Lok Sabha MP at this time comes as a big boost for the INDIA alliance, which is still at a formative stage, and Rahul is the most prominent face and the leading voice of the group in Parliamentary proceedings. With his return to Parliament a day before the no-confidence vote against the Narendra Modi administration, Gandhi is also poised to reclaim his official 12, Tughlaq Lane home in Delhi.
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