New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha and former Union Minister Jaswant Singh Leader of the Opposition.

This was announced by Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat soon after the House met on the first day of its 201st session.

As Shekhawat introduced the Prime Minister to the members, Manmohan Singh rose in his seat and greeted the treasury and Opposition benches with folded hands. The members welcomed him by thumping desks.

The Chairman then informed the House that Manmohan Singh would be Leader of the House as conveyed to him by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

He also informed the members that Jaswant Singh, who is the leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the House, will be Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha.

While Congress and its allies occupied ruling party benches, BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) members were seated in Opposition rows with Najma Heptulla being the sole exception.

Though a Congress member, she occupied the first seat in the Opposition block as it is earmarked for Deputy Chairperson of the House, a post held by her.