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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi did not attend the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort on Saturday, marking their second consecutive absence from the national ceremony led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Independence Day event saw PM Modi hoist the national flag and address the nation from the historic Red Fort, while the absence of the two senior Congress leaders drew attention amid previous disagreements over protocol and seating arrangements at such events.
Rahul Gandhi had been invited to this year’s Independence Day ceremony. The Defence Ministry stated that seating arrangements were decided according to the Table of Precedence, which determines protocol positions at official state functions.
As per the Warrant of Precedence issued by the President’s Secretariat, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha holds a position equivalent to a Union Cabinet Minister.
The absence comes against the backdrop of a 2024 controversy when Rahul Gandhi, after becoming the Leader of Opposition, was seated in the fifth row during the Independence Day celebrations.
The Congress had criticised the arrangement, alleging that the position given to the Leader of Opposition was disrespectful. The Defence Ministry, however, clarified that the seating plan was prepared to accommodate Olympians attending the event.
Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge had also stayed away from the Red Fort Independence Day celebrations in 2025.
The Congress has repeatedly raised objections over the seating arrangements of its leaders at major national events, including Republic Day ceremonies.
The government has maintained that seating arrangements at Republic Day and Independence Day events are decided according to established protocol rules and the official Table of Precedence, without consideration of political affiliation.
