The 16th Lok Sabha which met for the first time post elections, has witnessed something new after a decade. The seating arrangement showed the change of government as BJP has secured a majority on its own in the elections, an achievement by any party for the first time after 1984.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked into the House amidst thumping of desks by his party MPs and BJP veteran LK Advani followed. Both sat down in the front seat while the second row was occupied by five leaders, Murli Manohar Joshi, Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP chief), M Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh. Nitin Gadkar.

Minutes after that Sonia Gandhi walked on the other side of the Lower House. Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, M Veerappa Moily and K H Muniyappa chaired the opposition bench. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi who was reluctant to be the opposition leader, occupied at the ninth row and former union minister Shashi Tharoor sat next to him.

BSP, DMK, National Conference and Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal had no representation this time in the House as they faced a humiliating defeat.

(AW: Vamshi)