# Rahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event for Second Year

2026-08-15T06:27:14+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi skipped the Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort for the second consecutive year, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the national ceremony. India Today reports that the absence followed concerns over seating and other ceremonial protocols. The dispute dates to 2024, when Gandhi was seated in the fifth row, according to India Today, while ABP News described it as the second-last row. Congress criticised the arrangement, while the Defence Ministry said it accommodated Olympic athletes. Authorities had invited Gandhi this year and said his seating would follow the official Table of Precedence, which gives the Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Cabinet minister rank. Kharge and Gandhi also missed the 2025 ceremony.

## Coverage

- news.abplive.com <https://news.abplive.com/news/india/independence-day-event-mallikarjun-kharge-rahul-gandhi-congress-skip-red-fort-for-second-year-in-a-row-1862145>
- indiatvnews.com <https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/rahul-gandhi-mallikarjun-kharge-skip-independence-day-celebrations-for-second-consecutive-year-2026-08-15-1051440>
- indiatoday.in <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rahul-gandhi-mallikarjun-kharge-skip-red-fort-independence-day-event-again-2971751-2026-08-15?utm_source=rss>

Tags: Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Red Fort
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