Sonia likely to take over as NAC chief

New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) More than two months after she quit as the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council(NAC) following the Office of Profit controversy, UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi is likely to take over the post again shortly.

Party sources said there was no problem now in her taking over as the Chairperson of the NAC again,having been re-elected to the Lok Sabha from her Rae Bareli consttuency in a by-election.

"She(Mrs Gandhi) is at least better placed than those who faced charge of holding office of profit as an MP and yet,instead of resigning their membership of Parliament,continue to hold their posts,sources told UNI here.

"It is for the Prime Minister to decide whether she would assume charge of the post again",the sources added.

However,informed sources said "there is no indication yet" of Mrs Gandhi taking over as the NAC Chairperson."Whenever it is decided ,it would be known to you." The Chairperson's post,she held earlier,bestowed on her the Cabinet rank,with the expendinture incurred on the running of the office borne by the Prime Minister's Office.The NAC advises the Prime Minister on the implementation of the National Common Minimum Programme.The post was taken out of the purview of the Office of Profit by an amendment in the existing law by Parliament.

Mrs Gandhi resigned from the NAC as also from the memership of the Lok Sabha in late March after she was accused of holding office of profit while as an MP,being upset with the charge that Parliament was being adjourned sine die deliberately to make it possible for the Government to issue an ordinance to save her membership of the Lok Sabha and her position as the NAC Chairperson.Shortly afterwards she contested the Lok Sabha by-election from Rae Bareli and won by a huge margin.

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