The seating arrangements for the 18th Lok Sabha have been finalized, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi continuing to hold Seat No. 1, reflecting his prime position in the house. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah occupy seats 2 and 3, respectively.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, initially allocated Seat No. 58, has now been reassigned to Seat No. 4, following a revised circular issued on Monday. Seats for prominent ministers, such as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Health Minister J.P. Nadda, remain unoccupied, as is customary for ministers who often operate outside the fixed seating arrangements.
On the opposition side, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, serving as the Leader of the Opposition, retains Seat No. 498 in the front row. He is accompanied by Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal at Seat No. 497.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has been allotted Seat No. 355, while Trinamool Congress leader Sudeep Bandopadhyay occupies Seat No. 354. SP MP Awadhesh Prasad has moved to the second row at Seat No. 357, seated next to Dimple Yadav at Seat No. 358.
Priyanka Gandhi’s Debut in Parliament
Marking her debut in the Lok Sabha as the newly-elected MP from Wayanad, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been assigned a seat in the fourth row, at Seat No. 517. She will be seated alongside Congress MPs Adoor Prakash from Kerala and Pradyut Bordoloi from Assam, both serving their second terms.
Significance of the Seating Arrangements
The finalized seating arrangements underscore the organizational dynamics within the Lok Sabha. The continuity for top leaders and strategic placements for newcomers like Priyanka Gandhi signify the balance of power and representation across parties in the 18th Lok Sabha.