New Delhi: Jailed MPs Amritpal Singh from Punjab and Abdul Rashid Sheikh, better known as Engineer Rashid, from Jammu and Kashmir have been allotted adjacent seats in the newly formed 18th Lok Sabha, even though their status as undertrials prevents them from attending House proceedings.
Amritpal Singh, the 31-year-old chief of Waris Punjab De and Independent MP from Khadoor Sahib, has been allocated Seat No. 334 in the Lok Sabha chambers. His immediate neighbour, Engineer Rashid, who defeated NC leader Omar Abdullah in Baramulla, will occupy Seat No. 335.
Amritpal in Assam’s Dibrugarh Jail and Sheikh in Tihar Jail
Despite being lodged in separate jails — Amritpal in Assam’s Dibrugarh Jail and Sheikh in Tihar Jail — both were brought under heavy security to the Lok Sabha for swearing-in. Their oath-taking was facilitated as a constitutional right despite their inability to participate in regular parliamentary proceedings due to ongoing trials.
Amritpal Singh faces charges under the National Security Act, including allegations of terror financing. Meanwhile, Rashid Sheikh had secured interim bail earlier this year to campaign during the Jammu and Kashmir elections.
How the seating will look in Lok Sabha?
The front row on the treasury bench side of the new Lok Sabha chambers will feature key figures of the ruling NDA. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari are set to occupy these prime seats. Gadkari, whose initial allocation of Seat No. 58 was later revised, will now sit in Seat No. 4.
Seats in the front row have also been allocated to prominent NDA allies, including HD Kumaraswamy (JD-S), Rajiv Ranjan Singh (JDU), Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM), Chirag Paswan (LJP), and a representative from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
On the opposition side, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, K Suresh, and Gaurav Gogoi have been granted front-row seats. Additionally, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be seated in Seat No. 517, located near senior Congress MP Manish Tewari (Seat No. 519), in the new Lok Sabha arrangement.
