On Rahul Gandhi Legal Strategy, Senior Congress Leader Concedes "Slip-Up"

If Rahul Gandhi's conviction is not overturned, he will not be allowed to contest elections for eight years.

Senior Congress leader and Chhattisgarh minister TS Singh Deo on Saturday conceded that those handling top party boss Rahul Gandhi's legal strategy may have slipped up on his conviction in a defamation case and the resulting disqualification from parliament.

"As far as the legal strategy is concerned, maybe there was a slip-up. It cannot be denied. When Pawan Khera was deplaned, there was an immediate response. Maybe the [disqualification] order being taken out the next day wasn't expected," he told NDTV.

Mr Singh Deo was referring to the incident when senior Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera was not allowed to fly out of Delhi last month over a police case. He was allowed to take a flight later in the day after the Congress went to the Supreme Court at once.

"I have no hesitation in saying the people looking after this should have been more alert and aware. There is no doubt," Mr Singh Deo said.