Opening day of Monsoon Session: New members take oath, families break norms with cheers

Among the veterans who took oath are Amar Singh, who returned to Samajwadi Party recently, former Union minister Beni Prasad Verma, who left the Congress to return to Samajwadi Party months ago, MoS Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani and former Union minister Ambika Soni.

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RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter Misa Bharti, a first time MP, new Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave and NCP leader Praful Patel too took oath.

Welcoming the newly-elected members, Chairman Hamid Ansari said: “We eagerly look forward to their valuable contribution in making the functioning of Parliamentary democracy more effective, people-oriented and purposive.”

Visitors’ galleries were packed with family members and friends of the members, and on a couple of occasions, going against the convention, some even cheered.

Of the 43 who took oath, 12 members were from the BJP, eight from the SP, seven from the Congress, three each from JD(U) and BJD, two each from DMK and RJD and one each from Shiv Sena, NCP, BSP TDP and Akali Dal. One nominated member too took oath.