All states, UTs to get equal chance to display tableaux during Republic Day parade: Govt

The clarification over the new selection process for the tableaux comes amid criticism from states with the opposition in power, including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (Congress) and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann (Aam Aadmi Party), over the rejection of their tableaux.

According to the officials, the three-year rolling plan for the display of tableaux on Republic Day happened last year, following a consultative process for their selection between defence secretary Giridhar Aramane and senior officials of the states and union territories. They also said that after four meetings held by an expert committee, the tableaux of 16 states and union territories were selected for display during the Republic Day celebrations, on January 26, while emphasising that the selection was “transparent” and “consultative”, and provides everyone with an “equal opportunity”.

So far, 28 states including Karnataka are a signatory to the MoU.

Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Ladakh, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, and Telangana will be displaying their tableaux this year. Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Goa, Assam, and Uttarakhand will participate in Bharat Parv at Red Fort from January 23 to 31.

According to the MoU provisions, the three-year plan was finalised so that every state and union territory gets a chance — on a rotational basis — to showcase its tableau during the Republic Day parade.An expert committee, comprising reputed artists recommended by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts and Indian Council for Cultural Relations was constituted for selecting the tableaux, the officials said.

While the three-year plan for participation at the parade in 2024-2026 is being drafted at the Centre, comments were sought from the states on the draft MoU. “Compared to previous years, all the states will be aware, well in advance, about the tableaux to be displayed under the new three-year programme. Under this, tableaux omitted for display this year will get preference for display over the next two years,” said an official, requesting anonymity.

The officials, meanwhile, also said that 30 agencies for design and fabrication of tableaux through an open selection process and the states have been asked to engage these agencies. To encourage ‘Nari Shakti’, majority of the marching contingents will see participation of women, said the officials, adding that while there are fewer women personnel in the military, up to 75 per cent of participants in the marching contingents at the Republic Day parade will be women this year.