New Delhi, Jun 17 (UNI) 'Giant slayer' and Amethi MP Smriti Irani stole limelight in the Lok Sabha on the first day of Parliament session on Monday and received a very long round of applause when she took oath as a member whereas Congress president Rahul Gandhi's oath taking was a milder show.
When name of Ms Irani, who is handling two key portfolios - Woman and Child Development and Textiles -- was called, the ruling BJP members, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, other union ministers and MPs enthusiastically thumped the desk for a long time.
Among others, Mr Modi himself, Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh were seen in joyous mood and thumped the desks in an energised manner.
After taking oath in Hindi, Ms Irani greeted Protem Speaker Virendra Kumar and also opposition leaders, including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who reciprocated the greetings with folded hands.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi was not present in the House at that time.
In fact, during the morning session, Congress bench was embarrassed when RPI leader and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale questioned the opposition members asking "where is Rahul Gandhi".
Later in the post lunch session, Mr Gandhi took oath as a member of the Wayanad parliamentary constituency in Kerala.
To the surprise of many, Mr Gandhi after oath taking started walking back towards his seat when deputy leader of the House Rajnath Singh and others gestured him to sign the register and meet the chair.
Later as he sat alongside his mother Sonia Gandhi on the front row, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran came to compliment him and shook hands.
Mr Gandhi was humbled by Smriti Irani in the recent polls by a margin of over 55,000 votes in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi constituency.
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