Gadkari’s seat reshuffle places him beside Home Minister Amit Shah, while other key leaders secure prominent positions

In a recent shake-up of seating arrangements in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has been moved to a more prominent position. Previously allocated division number 58 in the second column, Gadkari’s new seat, number four, places him directly next to Home Minister Amit Shah in the front row of the chamber. This move highlights Gadkari’s strengthened presence in the House, alongside senior BJP leadership.

The seating reshuffle, detailed in a circular issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, also confirmed other key positions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been allocated seat number one, at the centre of the semicircular front row, while the seat directly opposite him will be occupied by the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been assigned division seat number two, placing him next to the Prime Minister. This strategic seating arrangement ensures that top government leaders are positioned together for efficient coordination during key discussions.

On the opposition side, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav has secured seat number 355 in the front row, with TMC leader Sudip Bandhopadhyay sitting next to him. Other TMC leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee, and Saugata Roy, have been allocated seats in the second row, with division numbers 280, 281, and 284 respectively.

In addition, prominent leaders from the DMK, including T.R. Baalu and A. Raja, have also been assigned front-row seats, ensuring their visibility during proceedings. Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who recently won the Wayanad bypoll, has been assigned seat number 517 in the fourth row.

The seating allocation is crucial for the smooth functioning of the Lok Sabha, especially when divisions are held. Division numbers are synonymous with seat numbers and are used during electronic voting.

However, the House is currently dealing with one vacancy following the death of TMC MP S.K. Nurul Islam, representing Basirhat, West Bengal.