Sonia lets Lalu stay in front row seat

The Congress and the RJD may have gone their ways in Bihar, and Lalu Prasad may not be a minister anymore, but the rapport between him and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi remains.

Earlier this week Gandhi intervened to ensure that the former railway minister was allotted a front row seat in the Lok Sabha, from the Congress quota. The RJD has four members in the Lok Sabha and has been relegated to the back benches.

In the 14th Lok Sabha, Lalu occupied the front row on the government side and often kept Gandhi company. But now, he has not only lost his ministership, but was also in danger of losing his front row seat, till Gandhi intervened.

Gandhi’s gesture has not gone unnoticed. Lalu is more than happy at being allotted the seat and says that it will stop MPs from craning their necks, which they would have had to if he were speaking from one of the back rows.

As for Gandhi, he says that despite the parting of ways between the two parties, his respect and affection for her is undiminished.