Leaders of different parties from across the country attended a big meeting of the Opposition bloc INDIA in Delhi on Wednesday.
Her arrival led to a bit of a scramble. Typically, seating arrangements – with some leaders in the front row and others behind – are designed to ensure mutual respect.
However, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi arrived unexpectedly, sources said, adding no one had anticipated her presence. Those representing parties with fewer MPs sit further back, while current or former chief ministers and deputy chief ministers are seated in the front row, sources said.
The DMK, which had left the alliance due to its differences with the Congress, assured support to the impeachment motion against the CEC in parliament.
In the press conference hall, the chairs were arranged in the following manner: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s chair was at the centre of the podium, flanked by Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav; Trinamool Congress’s Mamata Banerjee and CPM General Secretary MA Baby sat next to them.
There was no nameplate for her anywhere, sources said.
Before the event started, several Congress leaders and Trinamool leader Derek O’Brien had already inspected the seating arrangements. Yet, Sonia Gandhi arrived just before the conference began, catching everyone off guard.
