Congress cries protocol breach over Rahul Gandhi’s R-Day seating; BJP calls it political drama

The Congress alleged that Kharge and Gandhi were placed in the third row in violation of established protocol, accusing the Centre of deliberately undermining the stature of the Opposition.

Party leaders shared archival photographs from 2014 to argue that the leaders of the Opposition were seated more prominently earlier.

Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala criticised the government in a post on X, questioning whether the seating arrangement met “any standards of decorum, tradition, or protocol,” and claimed it reflected the ruling dispensation’s “inferiority complex.”

Congress MP Manickam Tagore alleged that the move was “intentionally done by the BJP” to insult Rahul Gandhi and Kharge. Sharing a 2014 image featuring senior BJP leaders seated in the front row, Tagore asked why protocol norms appeared to have changed.

However, it has been pointed out that LK Advani, visible in the 2014 photograph cited by the Congress, was not the Leader of the Opposition at the time. Arun Jaitley served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, while Sushma Swaraj held the position in the Lok Sabha.

As per the official Table of Precedence issued by the President’s Secretariat, Leaders of the Opposition rank seventh in the order, after the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Governors, former Presidents, Deputy Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers, and former Prime Ministers.

Seating at state ceremonies is allotted strictly according to this hierarchy.

The BJP dismissed the Congress’s allegations, accusing it of politicising a national event. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said the Opposition was attempting to divert attention after Rahul Gandhi was allegedly seen using his phone during the parade.

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya also recalled that Kharge and Gandhi had skipped the Republic Day celebrations last year.

The controversy unfolded on a day when India marked its 77th Republic Day, with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attending as Chief Guests, the first time two top EU leaders jointly participated in the celebrations.

They watched the parade alongside President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, and foreign diplomats.