Sonia Gandhi sits through first day of winter session

The third seat in the front row  the first is occupied by PM Manmohan Singh and the second by leader of Lok Sabha, Pranab Mukherjee, was vacant through the monsoon session. Its occupant was back on Tuesday.  Congress president Sonia Gandhi was there in a blue saree and brown shawl. She looked her bright and energetic self, and ready to give necessary directions and advice as and when required.

Surface transport minister Kamal Nath chatted with her and agriculture minister and NCP president Sharad Pawar joined. Then came home minister P Chidambaram and sat between Pawar and Kamal Nath. When Mukherjee came, Gandhi had a brief exchange with him.

Apart from Congress members, DMK’s senior member TR Baalu too went and greeted her. She sat through even as the House was adjourned at 11.30 till 12, and she picked up her bag and papers only when the House was adjourned a second time till Wednesday morning and made her way out. The Congress benches, which looked a little forlorn through the monsoon session without the leader in the front, seemed to have regained poise and sense of place.