(Repeatng with corrections)

New Delhi, June 7 (UNI) Ten advocates from Varanasi have filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging Congress president Sonia Gandhi's election as a member of the Lok Sabha from Rae Bareli in the recently held byelection.

The petitioners represented by Santosh Kumar Srivastava have challenged her election on the grounds that her election is hit by article 102 (1) (d) of the Indian Constitution under which, a person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being a member of either House of Parliament if he or she is under any acknowledgement of allegiance or adherence to a foreign state.

According to the petitioners, in an affidavit filed by Ms Gandhi, she had disclosed that she has an ancestral house worth Rs 13 lakh in Italy. This amounts to admission on her part that she owes allegiance or adherence to that country, they added.

The petitioners have sought direction from the apex court to set aside her election as an MP.

Byelection to the constituency on May 8 was necessitated following Ms Gandhi's resignation due to the office-of-profit controversy as she was holding the twin posts of chairperson of the National Advisory Council and was also a member of the Lower House. UNI AKS/SC AK RP KN1601