Kharge, Rahul Gandhi skip Red Fort I-Day for second year running
Synopsis
For the second year running, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi were absent from the Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort — a back-to-back snub that has no clear recent parallel in Indian politics, and one the Congress has yet to formally explain.
Key Takeaways
Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day at the Red Fort on 15 August 2025 — the second consecutive year of absence.
In 2024 , Rahul Gandhi was reportedly seated in the second-last row despite holding Cabinet ministerial status as Leader of Opposition, triggering a seating controversy.
The Defence Ministry said the 2024 seating plan was altered to accommodate Olympians at the ceremony.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament ended with only 12 Bills passed and detailed debate on just one legislation.
Congress , TMC , and Samajwadi Party also boycotted the post-session tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla .
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi were absent from India's 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort on 15 August 2025, marking the second consecutive year the two top Congress leaders have skipped the national ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The back-to-back absences have drawn fresh scrutiny amid deepening hostility between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition bloc.
A Pattern of Absence
Both leaders had similarly stayed away from the 79th Independence Day ceremony in 2024, establishing what critics and political observers now describe as a deliberate distancing from the government-led event. The repeated no-shows come at a moment of particularly strained Centre-Opposition ties, making the symbolism harder to ignore.
The 2024 Seating Row That Preceded This
The backdrop to this year's absence includes a controversy that erupted during the 2024 Independence Day celebrations, when Rahul Gandhi — despite holding the rank of Leader of Opposition and carrying Cabinet ministerial status — was reportedly seated in the second-last row, contrary to established protocol that places the LoP in the front row at major ceremonial functions. The Opposition strongly objected, alleging the seating was a deliberate slight. The Defence Ministry, which organises the event, maintained that the seating plan had been modified to accommodate Olympians attending the ceremony that year.
Parliament Session Tensions Add Context
The absences come against the backdrop of an acrimonious Monsoon Session of Parliament, which concluded on Thursday. The session was marked by repeated disruptions and low productivity, with both sides trading blame for the deadlock. Only 12 Bills were passed, and detailed legislative discussion was held on just one — a legislation related to preventing paper leaks. The friction spilled beyond Parliament as well: Congress, along with the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Samajwadi Party, boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die.
The Ceremony Itself
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the National Flag and addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi on Saturday morning. The flag-unfurling was followed by a 21-gun salute and a ceremonial showering of flowers from a helicopter — standard protocol for the occasion. Senior government functionaries, diplomats, and Olympians were among those present.
What This Signals
The dual absence of the Congress president and the Leader of Opposition from a constitutional ceremony of this magnitude is without recent precedent in Indian politics. Whether it represents a principled protest over the 2024 seating controversy, a broader political statement, or both, the Congress has not issued a formal explanation for either year's non-attendance. With the 2026 Budget Session on the horizon and opposition unity still being tested, the symbolism of the empty chairs is unlikely to fade quickly.
Point of View
Whether or not Congress frames it as one. The 2024 seating row gave the party a grievance, but the silence around both boycotts — no formal statement, no alternate event — suggests the Congress is content letting the optics do the work. The risk is that prolonged ceremonial disengagement can be framed as disrespect to the occasion rather than to the government, a distinction that BJP communicators are unlikely to leave unexploited. More substantively, the Monsoon Session's near-total dysfunction — 12 Bills, one real debate — points to a Parliament increasingly unable to perform its legislative function, and both sides own a share of that failure.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge skip Independence Day 2025?
Both Congress leaders were absent from the 80th Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort on 15 August 2025, repeating their non-attendance from 2024. Congress has not issued a formal explanation for either year's absence, though the 2024 incident involved a controversy over Rahul Gandhi's seating at the event.
What was the 2024 Independence Day seating controversy involving Rahul Gandhi?
During the 79th Independence Day in 2024, Rahul Gandhi was reportedly seated in the second-last row despite his status as Leader of Opposition, which carries Cabinet ministerial rank and entitles him to a front-row seat at major ceremonial functions. The Opposition alleged the arrangement was deliberately disrespectful; the Defence Ministry said the seating was adjusted to accommodate Olympians attending that year.
How did the Monsoon Session of Parliament end?
The Monsoon Session concluded on Thursday with only 12 Bills passed and substantive debate held on just one legislation — a bill related to preventing paper leaks. Both the government and Opposition blamed each other for repeated disruptions that hampered productivity.
Which parties boycotted Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's tea party?
Congress, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), and the Samajwadi Party boycotted the customary post-session tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die, reflecting the broader breakdown in relations between the ruling BJP and the Opposition.
What happened at the Red Fort on 15 August 2025?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the National Flag and addressed the nation from the Red Fort on 15 August 2025 as India marked its 80th Independence Day. The ceremony included a 21-gun salute and a ceremonial flower shower from a helicopter, with senior officials, diplomats, and Olympians in attendance.
