LS Speaker accepts Sonia resignation

New Delhi, Mar 23 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today accepted the resignation of Congress President Sonia Gandhi from the Lower House.

Immediately after announcing her decision to resign as MP from Rae Bareli and also as National Advisory Council Chairperson, Mrs Gandhi drove straight to the official residence of Mr Chatterjee and personally handed over the brief resignation letter.

She was closetted with the Speaker for nearly 15 minutes.

Ms Gandhi had already announced that she would contest again from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.

The submission of the resignation today itself will facilitate conduct of by-elections to Rae Bareli in such a way that Ms Gandhi could expect to become a member of Lok Sabha when the House meets for its monsoon session in July.

UNI PMD/SH YA BD1815