Congress Questions Seating of Opposition Leaders During Republic Day Parade

New Delhi, January 26, 2026: Congress has raised concerns over the seating arrangement of opposition leaders during the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path, questioning whether the government intended to insult senior opposition figures. The party highlighted that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge were seated in the rear rows, sparking controversy.

Congress MPs Vivek Tankha and Manickam Tagore shared images from the 2014 Republic Day parade showing L.K. Advani, then Leader of the Opposition, seated in the front row. They questioned why a similar protocol was not followed this year and whether this deviation was deliberate.

Manickam Tagore, in a post on X, said, “Opposition leaders cannot be disrespected, especially on Republic Day. L.K. Advani, as opposition leader in 2014, was seated in the front row. Why was the protocol altered this year? Is this a deliberate attempt by Modi and Shah to insult Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge?”

The Congress has urged clarity from the government on the matter, emphasizing the need to respect democratic traditions and senior opposition leaders during national ceremonies.