Monday, March 21 2005 15:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: It was no backseat driving. Congress President Sonia Gandhi stumped party members by taking the last row in the Lok Sabha today (March 21, 2005).

The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Chairperson, who enjoys Cabinet rank by virtue of being head of the National Advisory Council on the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the ruling alliance, has been allotted the front row seat next to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee.

Gandhi continued to occupy the backseat despite being urged by Finance Minister P Chidambaram and others to move to the front.

Incidentally, her son and party MP Rahul Gandhi, seated three rows ahead of her, spoke for the first time in the House today.