Rahul Gandhi's Independence Day seating arrangement sparks controversy; government responds

PTC News Desk: During the 78th Independence Day celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the historic Red Fort, marking the occasion with his customary speech. However, what caught the attention of many was the seating arrangement of Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Visuals showing Gandhi seated in the second last row alongside Olympic medallists quickly went viral, sparking widespread chatter on social media.

This year marked a significant moment as it was the first time in a decade that a Leader of the Opposition was present at the Red Fort for Independence Day celebrations. Gandhi, dressed in a traditional white kurta-pyjama, was seated beside Gurjant Singh, a forward in India's hockey team.

The front rows at the event were occupied by prominent Olympic medallists, including shooter Manu Bhaker and shooter Sarabjot Singh. Additionally, members of India's Olympic bronze-winning hockey team, such as captain Harmanpreet Singh and veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, were seated ahead of Rahul Gandhi.

According to protocol, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, whose rank is on par with that of a Cabinet Minister, is typically seated in the front row during such events. This year, however, the front row was occupied by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and Union ministers including Nirmala Sitharaman, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Amit Shah, and S. Jaishankar.

The unusual seating arrangement led to a flurry of discussions on social media, with many questioning the change in protocol. In response, sources within the Ministry of Defence, which is responsible for organizing the Independence Day event and arranging the seating plan, clarified that Rahul Gandhi's seat had to be moved back to accommodate the Olympic medal winners in the front rows. They emphasized that under normal circumstances, the Leader of the Opposition is allotted a seat in one of the front rows as per established protocol.

It's worth noting that during the BJP regime under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then-Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi was consistently assigned a seat in the front row during Independence Day events at the Red Fort.

The post of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha had remained vacant since 2014, as no party secured the required number of seats equaling a tenth of the strength of the Lower House. However, following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress increased its tally to 99 seats, enabling them to claim the position, even as the NDA returned to power with a reduced mandate.

In the previous two general elections, held in 2014 and 2019, the Congress won 44 and 52 seats respectively in the 543-member Lok Sabha, falling short of the threshold required to secure the Leader of the Opposition post. This change in circumstances in 2024 allowed the party to finally occupy the post after a decade-long gap.

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