Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from his position as a Member of Parliament on Friday, following his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court. Gandhi, who was representing the Wayanad constituency in Kerala, has been sentenced to two years in prison, taking into consideration his disqualification from the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament.
The decision has sparked reactions from various political parties, including the Congress, as well as film stars. Actress Swara Bhaskar expressed her displeasure at the central government’s decision to disqualify Gandhi, calling it a misuse of the law. In a tweet, she wrote, “How scared they are of the so-called ‘Pappu’! The law has been grossly misused to curb the growing popularity, credibility and stature of Rahul Gandhi and there is a clear strong strategy for 2024 Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi can no longer contest elections. My guess is that Rahul Gandhi will come out of this and his stature will be bigger.”
Article 102(1)(e) has been invoked to disqualify Gandhi as an MP. The Surat court’s verdict in the defamation case of Modi surname resulted in Gandhi’s conviction and subsequent disqualification. However, the court granted him immediate bail and a 30-day time frame to appeal to a higher court, suspending his sentence in the meantime.
The decision to disqualify Gandhi has significant implications for the Congress party, with many speculating on his future role in Indian politics. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen how this verdict will impact the political landscape of India in the long run.
