Gandhi Scion Disqualified as India MP in Opposition Setback

  • Opposition leader faces risk of being barred from elections
  • Congress Party vows to fight legal and political battles
Rahul GandhiPhotographer: Atul Loke/Getty Images
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India’s parliament secretariat removed Rahul Gandhi as a lawmaker after a local court convicted him of defaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, dealing a huge blow to the opposition ahead of national elections next year.

The disqualification might make Gandhi, a scion of the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, less viable as a leader of any opposition coalition before elections that may be held around April next year.