New Delhi, In a spectacular display down Kartavya Path, the Election Commission’s Republic Day tableau portrayed India as the “Mother of Democracy.” French President Emmanuel Macron, attending the 75th Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest, witnessed the grand military parade and cultural performances alongside President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other dignitaries.
This marked the sixth instance of a French leader being the chief guest at the Republic Day parade. The tableau emphasized the Lok Sabha election as the world’s largest peacetime logistics exercise, highlighting the conduct of free, fair, inclusive, accessible, and participative elections in the country.
The front of the tableau depicted an inked finger pressing a button on an electronic voting machine, symbolizing the act of casting a vote. It illustrated the scale of the upcoming parliamentary elections, where nearly 96 crore people are eligible to vote across 12 lakh polling stations, with approximately 1.5 crore personnel deployed for polling.
Representing the cultural diversity of the nation, people from various sections of society were depicted standing in a queue. The rear of the tableau showcased the Election Commission’s commitment to “No voter to be left behind,” emphasizing efforts to overcome extreme physical challenges to reach the most remote areas and set up polling stations.
With PTI inputs.