Disqualified MP Rahul Gandhi moves out of official residence, and in with Sonia Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was disqualified as MP after conviction in a defamation case, has moved out of his official residence.

The former Congress chief had on April 14 shifted his office and some personal belongings from the bungalow to his mother Sonia Gandhi's official residence.

A truck loaded with furniture was seen leaving his 12 Tughlak Lane bungalow, news agency ANI reported.


Gandhi was asked to vacate the premises by April 22 following his disqualification after the conviction and two-year sentence by a Surat court for his "Modi surname" remark.

He has been living in the bungalow for nearly two decades.

After leaving the accommodation, Gandhi said he wanted to thank the people of India "who gave me this house for 19 years".
The Congress leader said he paid price for speaking truth. He is ready to pay any price, PTI quoted him as saying.

A Surat court on March 23 had convicted Gandhi of defamation and given him two-year sentence, leading to his disqualification. He had challenged the magisterial court order in the sessions court in Surat which rejected his appeal to set aside the conviction which would have paved the way for his reinstatement as MP.

The party has said the sessions court order will be challenged in the Gujarat High Court next week.

A day after his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat had sent Gandhi a notice to vacate the premises by April 22.

Sources said Rahul Gandhi has been on a hunt for a space to set up his independent office.

A few years ago, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also asked to vacate her Lodhi Estate bungalow after her SPG security cover was removed.

Rahul Gandhi first got elected as an MP from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh in 2004 and shifted his constituency to Wayanad in 2019.

Congress reacts
Congress said the govt may "evict" Gandhi but he occupies a place in the hearts and homes of crores of Indians. The party said on its official Twitter handle (in Hindi) that "this country is the home of Rahul Gandhi. Rahul who resides in the hearts of people."

The party also launched a social media campaign titled "MeraGharAapkaGhar", in which party leaders offered their homes to Gandhi.
Using the hashtag "#MeraGharAapkaGhar", the party said, "Rahul whose relation with the public is unbreakable. Some see in him their son, some brother, some their leader.... Rahul belongs to everyone and everyone belongs to Rahul. This is the reason why today the country is saying- Rahul ji, my house-your house."

"We know that such episodes won't deter you from raising the voice of the people and speaking truth to power," AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said.

"He did not compromise on his principles even after risking everything," Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted, "Today Rahul Gandhi vacates his home at Tughlaq Lane in response to the LokSabha Secretariat's order. The Court gave him 30 days to appeal and the HC or SC could still reinstate him, but his exemplary gesture to move out shows his respect for the rules."


with PTI, ANI inputs