The Hindu : Front Page : Sonia sits in front row next to Ministers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 03, 2004

Front Page

Front Page

Sonia sits in front row next to Ministers

By Anita Joshua

NEW DELHI, JUNE 2. The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, remained the focus of attention for the hour-and-a-quarter she spent in the Lok Sabha today.

Ms. Gandhi took a seat in the front row adjacent to the block reserved for Ministers. Within seconds of her arrival to a round of applause, members from the Congress and its allies gathered to greet her. Even the Bahujan Samaj Party leader, Mayawati, who is not part of the ruling United Progressive Alliance, went up to Ms. Gandhi.

In view of the numerous theories about which seat would be allotted to Ms. Gandhi, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, clarified later that it was a decision left to the parties. "Specific seats are allocated only for the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. All we do is allot blocks to parties. It is up to the political parties to decide where to seat their leaders and members."

It was still too early for parties to allot seats for members, he said. "This session will have only a loose arrangement wherein the ruling party and its allies will be seated to the right of the Speaker's podium, and the Opposition parties to its left. The final seating arrangement will be ready in time for the next session." As chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance and Leader of the Opposition in the 13th Lok Sabha, Ms. Gandhi is a natural choice for a front row seat.

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