The chief of India's ruling Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, quit Thursday as member of parliament and a key advisory body, after charges she had violated the constitution by holding both posts.

But the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was under no danger, analysts said, adding that the Italian-born Gandhi would likely return to parliament in six months after a fresh election.

They said Gandhi had tried to pre-empt a campaign by the opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the controversy and claim the moral high ground. The move was also not expected to hurt her hold over the party, they added.

"I have decided to resign from the Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) and the national advisory council," Gandhi told a news conference, adding that she would contest elections again for her parliamentary seat.

"For the last two days, some people in the country were trying to create an impression that parliament was being misused for my benefit," Gandhi said.

"This has hurt me. I have said before that in my political and personal life, I have not wanted any private benefit," she said before handing her resignation to the speaker of the lower house of parliament.

A spokesman in the speaker's office said Gandhi's resignation had been accepted.

India's constitution bars members of parliament from holding what it calls an office of profit any government post that entitles them to pay and perks. But in practice many lawmakers also serve on official bodies outside parliament.

The controversy erupted after another member of parliament was disqualified this month for serving as head of a state cinema development board.

Since then, several petitions have been filed against other members of parliament, including Gandhi, whose party came to power at the head of a communist-backed coalition in May 2004.

About 40 other lawmakers, both in the ruling coalition and the opposition, are believed to hold such positions.

(China Daily March 24, 2006)