NEW DELHI: Today is the day when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whose disqualification in the Modi reference case was stayed by the Supreme Court, will get to know about the restoration of his membership to the Wayanad Lok Sabha. If the Lok Sabha Secretariat does not issue a notification by noon to restore the post of MP, Congress will bring it to the attention of the Supreme Court in the evening. Congress will be on a war footing, raising the failure of the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the central government to implement the Supreme Court's judgment if that happens. If the notification comes out today, it will pave the way for Rahul to become a star in the no-confidence motion debate starting tomorrow in connection with the Manipur conflict. If Rahul reaches the parliament, there is a possibility that he himself will initiate the no-confidence motion.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a notification disqualifying Rahul within 24 hours when the Surat Chief Judicial Magistrate Court sentenced Rahul to two years in prison. However, even after three days of the Supreme Court order, there was no further action. The Congress effort will be to present this as a failure on the part of the central government in front of Justice BR Gavai, who ordered the stay. Although the ruling side has the argument that it was holidays, there is a possibility that there will be quick action on the part of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, without inviting the criticism of the Supreme Court. There are indications that the notification will come out today. Saturday and Sunday were holidays. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's stance is crucial. The central position is that Rahul's disqualification and its removal is a matter related to the Lok Sabha Secretariat and they have nothing to do with it. At the same time, the Congress continues to taunt that Modi is afraid of Rahul.

What the Supreme Court reminded

With Rahul's disqualification, the rights of the people of Wayanad who voted for him and made him win were adversely affected. The trial court awarded the maximum sentence despite the fact that the offence was not serious.

'The delay in restoring Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership is because Modi is afraid of Rahul's speech in Parliament.'

-KC Venugopal,​

AICC General Secretary