Rahul Gandhi a backbencher in 16th Lok Sabha

New Delhi: After his reluctance to head the Congress in the 16th Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi was on Wednesday seen sitting in one of the rear benches of the Opposition. He was seen seated in the ninth row along with party colleagues Asrar-ul Haq and Shashi Tharoor.

Those occupying the front benches on the opposition side included Leader of Congress in the House Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, M. Veerappa Moily and K.H. Muniyappa.

Meanwhile defending Mr Gandhi for not taking up job of Opposition leader, Sashi Tharoor said, “If someone like Rahul Gandhi, who has not taken up the leadership in Lok Sabha, were to be asked where he would rather see his presence, I think his answer was apparent in Badaun.”