They may be frequently squabbling in the Lok Sabha, but Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP floor leader Dara Singh Chauhan may end up sharing the same bench in the front row of the House.

Mulayam, according to sources, is very uncomfortable over this impending development, but the allotment of division seats, currently under process, may leave him with no choice. He had actually been planning to sit next to CPM leader Basudeb Acharia. However, Acharia, being in the Opposition, is set to find a place close to JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav. And Mulayam being the leader of a supporting party, is likely to get a front seat next to the leader of another supporting party.

The sources said the fate of two senior leaders, former prime minister and JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda and RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, is in the hands of the Congress. The UPA has got a chunk of 10 of the 20 front seats. Therefore, it is for the Congress leadership to see if it wants to accommodate them in the alliance quota because both back the UPA regime. If the Congress decides to ignore them, both Deve Gowda and Lalu would be relegated to rear rows. The House has a tradition of seating former prime ministers in the front row, but Deve Gowda is unlikely to benefit from it this time round. The crucial consideration for the allotment of seats is the party strength and the two leaders stand to lose on this count.

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