Sonia regains moral high ground

Supporters of India's ruling Congress Party chief and chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government Sonia Gandhi shout anti-BJP slogans in front of her residence in New Delhi yesterday, a day after Sonia resigned from parliament following opposition allegations that she wrongfully held another salaried public post. PHOTO: AFP

Sonia resigned from parliament Thursday after the opposition charged she had wrongfully held another salaried public post.

"She's signalling that she is not interested in power and in Indian politics that makes her influence and capability actually go up," said political analyst Mahesh Rangarajan. "She is now sitting pretty."

Sonia cited her "inner conscience" when she stepped down in a move that echoed her decision not to become prime minister after leading the Congress party to an upset victory in the 2004 election.

"Following the principles of probity and my inner conscience I am resigning my post in the parliament," Sonia said Thursday, adding however she would run again for the seat in India's elected lower house.

The 59-year-old Sonia said she would also quit as chairwoman of the National Advisory Council (NAC), set up to implement her government's electoral pledges.

Right-wing opponents had charged that Italian-born Sonia was breaking regulations by holding both posts and that the Congress adjourned parliament so it could push through a cabinet ordinance to save her.

Rangarajan said the unexpected resignation had put the opposition in a bind.

"They banked their strategy on her holding on," said Rangarajan. "Now all that goes out of the window."

India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded by pouring scorn on Sonia's gesture.

"She has become a victim of her own conspiracy and by resigning she is trying to save face," said BJP spokesman Arun Jaitley. "This grandstanding will not pay any dividend."