Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge Skip Red Fort Independence Day Event for 2nd Consecutive Year
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were absent from the 80th Independence Day celebrations held at the historic Red Fort on Saturday, marking the second consecutive year both senior opposition leaders have skipped the national event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were absent from the 80th Independence Day celebrations held at the historic Red Fort on Saturday, marking the second consecutive year both senior opposition leaders have skipped the national event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While no official statement was immediately issued by the Congress party regarding their absence, the move underscores continuing friction between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition leadership during major ceremonial events. Independence Day 2026: Nation Becomes Great When It Moves Forward on Strength of Its Dreams, Says PM Narendra Modi (Video).
The decision to skip the event comes after a political controversy during the Independence Day celebrations in 2024. That year, Gandhi was assigned a seat in the second-to-last row rather than the front row typically reserved for the Leader of the Opposition, who holds Cabinet minister rank.
At the time, the Congress party termed the seating arrangement an intentional insult to the opposition's status. The Ministry of Defence, which organizes the ceremonial function at the Red Fort, clarified that seating arrangements had been adjusted to accommodate visiting Indian Olympians in the front rows. Independence Day 2026: India Has Moved From ‘Fragile Five’ to Fastest-Growing Major Economy, Says PM Narendra Modi (Video).
Protocol generally dictates that the Leader of the Opposition is seated alongside senior Cabinet ministers and dignitaries during state ceremonial occasions.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 15, 2026 08:55 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
