Rahul Gandhi to Sit After Cabinet Ministers at Independence Day Event, Confirms Defence Ministry

New Delhi: The defence ministry on Monday confirmed that Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has been invited to the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort on August 15. He will be seated immediately after Union Cabinet ministers, following the Table of Precedence, according to an official statement.

A defence ministry official told ANI, "Leader of Opposition has been invited, and his seating would be as per the Table of Precedence, which is exactly after Cabinet ministers."

The clarification comes after Congress criticised the government last year over Gandhi's seating at the Independence Day event, alleging he was placed in the "fifth row". The party called it a display of "pettiness" and a disregard for democratic norms. At that time, defence ministry officials had said seating was arranged according to the Table of Precedence.

Earlier this year, Congress again raised the issue after Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge were seated in the third row during Republic Day celebrations in January. The party accused the government of violating established protocol and undermining democratic decorum.

The Table of Precedence, issued by the President's Secretariat, is a protocol list that applies to state and ceremonial occasions, including national events such as Republic Day and Independence Day. It does not govern the day-to-day functioning of the government. Seating is determined by constitutional rank and office, not political affiliation.

Under the Table of Precedence, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha is ranked at the same level as a Union Cabinet minister. Specifically, entry 7 places the Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha alongside Union Cabinet ministers, after the Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of India and former prime ministers.

The Leader of Opposition is a constitutional office, and protocol requires that seating at official ceremonies follow this order. The government has maintained that it adheres to these guidelines at all official events. Congress leaders have previously said that any deviation from this protocol reflects a lack of respect for democratic institutions, and have urged strict compliance with the Table of Precedence.

The Independence Day function at Red Fort is the country's most high-profile national celebration, with the Prime Minister delivering an address to the nation from the ramparts. As such, seating arrangements are planned with precision, following the Warrant of Precedence.

Officials said the clarification was issued to address any confusion and reaffirm the government's commitment to following protocol. The seating arrangement for this year's event will be in line with the same principles, they added. The event will be attended by senior government and opposition leaders, as well as dignitaries from various walks of life.