The "exceptions" were ratified by pro-tem Speaker Kamal Nath, who set the order that reflected a tacit understanding with BJP over according due respect to Sonia and Advani.
The usual practice would see the leader of opposition taking oath after the PM, followed by the council of ministers, members of the panel of chairpersons and then an alphabetical, state-wise order of MPs.
Though there is no clarity whether Congress can claim the leader of opposition's post, Sonia was "promoted" to ensure Advani did not have to wait his turn along with other Gujarat MPs.
Despite murmurs that neither Sonia nor Advani ranked among the senior-most members of Lok Sabha, the BJP and Congress compact saw both leaders take oath without any fuss.
Advani figured in more House drama apart from the oath-taking order as well. Unlike Wednesday, he did not occupy the seat next to the PM - usually seen as the No.2 slot in the government.
On Thursday, Advani was seated across the aisle next to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, a development that did not pass unnoticed.
Sources said the exact seat allocation will happen only after the new Speaker allots blocks to all parties. It will be for BJP to decide which seat Advani will occupy within its benches.
The removal of Advani's name plate from the room next to the BJP parliamentary party office caused more comment. The leader has used a room abutting the parliamentary office but has not been in it recently.
It is understood that he has taken the view that the office should not be used until there is clarity on who will be the NDA chairperson with some reports suggesting Modi might be named to the post.
Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's name as NDA chairman has adorned room 4 on the ground floor of Parliament House though Advani has utilized the office. On Thursday, he was seen in the BJP parliamentary office.
In Lok Sabha, the Advani-Sonia arrangement was followed by former PM Deve Gowda being called an hour later with Nath noting his status.
An hour later, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was accorded a similar courtesy as Nath balanced competing claims of seniority.
Some astrological calculations were at work too, as AIADMK MPs wanted to be sworn in either before 1 pm on Thursday or after 4 pm on Friday.
The ticklish problem was resolved with AIADMK leader Thambi Durai being asked to take oath as a former deputy Speaker with BJP's Karia Munda in the same category.
The devise worked as the AIADMK MPs were seen to have "begun the process" of oath taking before the inauspicious hour.
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