Politics over selection of the Republic Day tableaux is nothing new. What the UPA Government did earlier, the BJP-led NDA regime is repeating now. During the UPA regime, Narendra Modi-ruled Gujarat never got tableaux selected for the R-day celebration. Now that Modi is the Prime Minister, tableaux from his home State has never been omitted during the last five years, while Opposition-ruled States have been routinely left out of the celebration.

The Opposition has alleged that West Bengal, Maharashtra and Kerala, which aggressively protested against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, have been omitted for obvious political reasons.

The data of Ministry of Defence shows that the Centre always used Republic Day tableaux as tools to target States ruled by the Opposition. This is true for the past six years of the Modi Government as well as 10 years of the UPA rule. Tableaux selected for the R-Day parade offer a unique opportunity to witness the culture, heritage and other unique aspects of various States.

Under the UPA regime, Gujarat failed to qualify for the five continuous years between 2009 and 2014. The State tableaux, however, qualified in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 during the NDA regime led by Modi who came to power in May 2014.

West Bengal failed to qualify for the R-Day Parade this year. The Bengal Government had proposed the theme of Kanyasree for the tableau. The State has failed to qualify for fourth straight years. The State, however, qualified in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019. West Bengal was adjudged best in 2014 when UPA II was in power at the Centre, and in 2016 the State was adjudged the best during NDA regime.

The Bihar Government's theme of Jal-Jivan-Hariyali Mission was rejected as "it does not fulfil the criteria for that". Bihar was not included in the Republic Day parade in 2019 as well. BJP-JD(United) alliance is ruling in the Bihar. The JD(U) did not protest while the RJD termed it Bihar's humiliation. The data shows Maharashtra tableaux qualified for Republic Day parades on nine occasions in the past 13 years but they failed to qualify in 2008, 2013, 2016 and 2020. In all other years when Maharashtra didn't qualify, the Centre and the State were ruled by the same party. In 2008 and 2013, the Congress-NCP alliance was in power in Maharashtra and the same parties shared power at the Centre. In 2016, BJP-Shiv Sena alliance shared power in the State and the same parties shared power at the Centre. In 2020, Shiv-Sena, NCP and Congress are sharing the power in the State while BJP is in the power at the Centre. Maharashtra was adjudged the best tableau in 2015 and 2018 when BJP-Shiv Sena Government was in power in the State and the Modi Government at the Centre. The State was on the third spot in 2017.

Kerala's tableau for the R-Day parade was also rejected for the second consecutive year this year by the Centre. The theme proposed by the State for its tableau was the State's art and architecture, which would comprise the traditional art forms of Theyyam and Kalamandala.

The tableau showed Kerala's backwaters, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam dancers and percussionists playing the tradition instrument of Chenda (drums). Kerala tableau was adjudged best in 2013 when UPA-II was in power at the Centre. Kerala, ruled by the CPI(M) Government was leading the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, Abrogation of Article 370 and Ram Temple.

Interestingly, Jammu & Kashmir is the only State whose tableau was selected for the parade every year (15 times) from 2005 to 2019. Next in line is Karnataka whose tableaux were selected 12 times during the last 14-year period. The tableaux of Assam & Chhattisgarh were selected 11 times each.

This year, the Government has selected 22 tableaux — 15 States, 1 Union Territory, and six Government departments —  from a total of 56 applications (32 from States and UTs, 24, departments).

The 16 States and UTs, whose tableau proposals have been accepted, are: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Karnataka, MP, Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and UP. Tableaux of several Opposition-ruled States including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Punjab have been selected for this R-Day parade. Last year too, there were 16 States and UTs that were part of the parade. In 2018, the number was 14, and in 2017 and 2016, 17.