New Delhi, 15 August 2026: Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge absent from Independence Day celebrations Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi did not attend the 80th Independence Day celebrations held at the Red Fort under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second consecutive year.
It is noteworthy that in the Independence Day celebrations, according to the 'Table of Presidency' (list of seniority), the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was to be allotted a seat immediately after the Union Cabinet ministers.
There was a dispute regarding seating arrangement
In the beginning of the year 2024, a big controversy was created regarding the seating arrangement during the Independence Day celebrations. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, came to Besadva from the last row (that is, the second from the last row) in Besadwa, which was contrary to the established tradition and protocol.
The opposition had strongly opposed this, calling it an insult to the public, while the Defense Ministry, which organized the event, had clarified that the seating arrangement had been changed to accommodate and honor the players participating in the Paris Olympics.
Tension between the ruling party and the opposition party
The absence of these two key leaders is being seen in the context of increased tension between the ruling and opposition parties during the recently concluded Chomasu session of the Parliament. During the session, which was adjourned sine die on Thursday, both parties accused each other of creating obstruction in the proceedings.
Twelve bills were passed during the session that began with the students' march to Parliament on 20 July; However, only one of the bills could be discussed in detail, which was a law aimed at preventing paper leaks.
The opposition had boycotted the Tea Party
After the end of the session, the Congress along with allies like Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party also boycotted the traditional tea party organized by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
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