An ordinance, brought by the UPA government to shield convicted lawmakers from immediate disqualification, was trashed then by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who even tore it publicly.

Eventually, it had to be withdrawn. Now, following his conviction his act seems to have come back to haunt him.

In a 2013 ruling in the Lily Thomas vs Union of India case, SC had struck down as “unconstitutional” Section 8(4) of the Representation of The People Act.