Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, were seen seated together in the third row at the start of the parade. Congress leaders argued that established convention and protocol mandate that Leaders of Opposition be seated prominently, alongside senior constitutional authorities. The issue gained further traction when Kharge was later shifted to the front row, next to former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, a move the Congress cited as implicit acknowledgment that the initial arrangement was incorrect.
Senior Congress leaders took to social media to question the seating decision. Party whip in the Lok Sabha, Manickam Tagore, shared a photograph from the 2014 Republic Day समारोह, showing then Opposition leader L K Advani seated in the front row along with senior ministers and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. He questioned why protocol was being interpreted differently now and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of showing disrespect to constitutional positions.
Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala said the treatment of the Leader of Opposition reflected a disregard for democratic traditions and institutional dignity. Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha described the episode as a “blatant breach of protocol,” stating that such conduct diminished the stature of constitutional offices rather than individuals.
The BJP rejected the allegations, maintaining that seating arrangements were made strictly in accordance with the official table of precedence. BJP spokesperson Shahzad Poonawala accused the Congress of manufacturing controversy and placing personal ego above national interest. He also questioned Rahul Gandhi’s absence from several high-profile constitutional events, including oath-taking ceremonies and previous national celebrations, arguing that selective attendance weakened the Congress’s claims.
Government sources said multiple senior ministers were seated around and behind Rahul Gandhi, and no exception was made in the arrangement. They added that Republic Day seating follows predefined rules and is not determined by political considerations.
Similar disputes over seating arrangements involving opposition leaders have surfaced in previous years during Republic Day and Independence Day events. While such controversies have typically faded quickly, the latest episode has once again brought attention to tensions between the government and the opposition, as well as broader debates over protocol, symbolism, and respect for constitutional offices in India’s political culture.
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