CPI opposes any move on offices of profit

The CPI on Thursday opposed any ordinance to re-define 'offices of profit' while the CPI(M) as not forthcoming on the issue saying only Parliament was empowered to legislate on the matter.

The stand of the Left parties assumes significance in the context of reports that government was planning to bring an ordinance to re-define the 'office of profit' which the Opposition allege was aimed at saving Sonia Gandhi from "a certain disqualification" as MP.

CPI leader D Raja, who met CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat in Delhi, later told reporters that "we are not for the ordinance route. Parliament is empowered to decide and only it should decide".

The CPI(M) Polit Bureau issued a statement saying "Under the Constitution, Parliament is empowered to decide on the definition of 'office of profit' and to exempt any office from disqualifying its holder under the 'office of profit' clause".