Rahul Gandhi’s gaffe while taking oath of office as member of the 17th Lok Sabha

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who missed the morning session of Parliament on the first day of the 17th Lok Sabha, on Monday took oath as Member of Parliament from Kerala’s Wayanad. Gandhi, after being administered oath by Pro tem Speaker Virender Kumar, started walking towards his seat without completing the formality of signing the members’ register.

He signed the register only after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and officials reminded him.

Gandhi read his oath in English this afternoon and began walking away towards his seat when he was reminded of the necessary signature. He then signed the register and walked back to applause from his party members including mother Sonia Gandhi.

Earlier in the day Gandhi’s absence was recorded by the ruling party members, who asked where he was. Soon after questions were raised over his absence on the first day of the Budget Session, Gandhi took to Twitter and wrote, "My fourth consecutive term as a Member of the Lok Sabha begins today. Representing Wayanad, Kerala, I begin my new innings in Parliament by taking my oath this afternoon, affirming that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India."

Earlier, talking about the newly constituted Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Modi said it is historic in various terms as maximum number of women MPs have been elected to the lower house since the Independence.

PM Modi said as this is the first session with new members, there will be a flow of new energy and a new enthusiasm will be reflected in the House to realise the aspirations of the people.

While the BJP-led NDA has 353 members, the saffron party has a majority on its own with 303 members in the 545-member Lok Sabha. The Congress with 52 seats is the second largest party in the house.