New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS): Congress president Sonia Gandhi Tuesday surrendered her honorary membership of the Press Club of India, a day after the party stated that her accepting it had nothing to do with the internal politics of the club.

A party leader confirmed that Gandhi had returned her membership following a controversy involving the club's internal bickerings.

"Yes, she has surrendered the membership......we are not interested in any Press Club politics," the leader said, wishing anonymity for he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Sources said party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi had arranged a meeting of club members with Sonia Gandhi recently with the intention to develop good relations between her and the city's journalists.

However, this caused embarrassment for the party as a large section of the club members called an extraordinary general body meeting last week and dissolved the club's managing committee on charges of financial regularities.

According to a member of the Press Club of India, the dissolved committee that requested the Congress chief to join it had the intention of getting a separate premises as the present building is likely to be demolished because of the Metro construction there.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters Monday that Gandhi "accepted the honorary membership because she was getting repeated requests for it" and she, agreeing to the requests, had nothing to do with the factionalism in the club.