New Delhi, May 10
The UPA Government is toying with the idea of restructuring the high-profile National Advisory Council (NAC) to facilitate Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s return as its chairperson and to ensure that this post does not qualify as an office of profit.

Although it is still not certain whether Mrs Gandhi wishes to get back as NAC chief, the government, on its part, is taking no chances this time in ensuring that it is on sound legal ground as far as she is concerned.

In its effort to insulate the Congress President from any further embarassment, the Centre is exploring various options with regards the NAC. One suggestion is that the NAC chief should not be given Cabinet status, as was the case so far. Another option is to convert the chairperson’s post into that of a consultant and finally, there is a proposal that the nomenclature of the NAC be changed so that it is beyond the pale of all controversy.

Mrs Gandhi had resigned from the NAC and the Lok Sabha in March when the Opposition sought her disqualification on the plea that as NAC chairperson, she was holding an office of profit.

All political parties have since agreed that the existing Bill on office of profit be amended to expand the list of posts which should be immune from disqualification.

The amended Bill is to tabled in the Lok Sabha on May 16. Defence minister Pranab Mukherjee and Law Minister H.R.Bharadwaj have been tasked by the Union Cabinet to consult all political parties with regard to the posts which they want included in the expanded list.

It is learnt that an additional 40 posts have so far been identified for exemption in the Bill. Several of these cover those held by Left leaders from West Bengal, including Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee. Government sources said the NAC has not been included in the exempted list so far.

Although there is unanimity among political parties on this issue, the opposition is, however, not willing to allow Mrs Sonia Gandhi to gain the upper hand. It is waiting for an opportunity to step up its attack against the UPA Government on the ground that it is going out of its way to protect and favour the Congress president.