NEW DELHI, 29 March 2006 — Over 100,000 enthusiastic supporters showered praise and petals on Congress party President Sonia Gandhi yesterday as she drove to her home district, days after quitting her MP’s post amid opposition charges she wrongfully held a salaried post.

She was hours behind schedule but that made little difference to the tens of thousands who gathered here to listen to Sonia on why she had renounced her position as member of Parliament from their area.

The huge crowd erupted in cheers as the Congress president reached the government intermediate college grounds in Rae Bareli around 3 p.m.

This is her first visit to her parliamentary constituency since her dramatic resignation from Parliament and as chairperson of the National Advisory Council on March 23 over the “office-of-profit” controversy. Sonia lashed out at her critics. “If there is a hailstorm, they will say it is Sonia’s doing.”

“You might have noticed that everyone’s language has changed, no one is talking about morality any more,” she said, referring to the lowering of rhetoric after she quit.

“I have resigned and they are all quiet about the issue.”

She vowed to seek a fresh mandate in Rae Bareli, which sent her to power in 2004 with a thumping victory over her poll rivals.

“For the enemies of Congress, the enemy number one is Sonia Gandhi. All their arrows, stones and bullets are aimed at me, and you know that,” she said. “Sonia’s sacrifice outshines Mother Teresa,” her admirers yelled as she addressed the gathering.

“The last time she won with 300,000 votes. This time she will break all records,” said one of her supporters. A by-election must be held in Rae Bareli within 90 days.

“When there is happiness or sorrow one turns to the family first. You’re my family,” Sonia shouted as some 100,000 supporters, including women and children, roared their approval and hurled garlands at their leader.

“Our relation with Rae Bareli is not political.. It is a deep, deep emotional tie,” she said, borrowing statements from her mother-in-law, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who was slain by two Sikh guards in October 1984.

“We are one and that’s why I have come to you,” said Sonia, widow of former Premier Rajiv Gandhi who was assassinated by a woman suicide bomber in May 1991.

Right-wing opponents had charged that Sonia had broken regulations by holding two salaried posts. The constitution disqualifies an MP “if he holds any office-of-profit under the federal government or state government, other than an office declared by the Parliament by law not to disqualify its holder.” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has indicated that the government could pass a law that would define what constitutes an office-of-profit.

Sonia’s backers traveled miles on tractors and bicycles or trudged on foot to throng her in the town square as the politiciani, with folded hands explained why she had quit her seat. — Additional input from agencies.