Arvind Kejriwal, LG seated together at Rajpath R'Day function

NEW DELHi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, the chief protagonists of a bitter turf war in the national capital, sat together in the VIP enclosure at Rajpath during the Republic Day parade.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and PWD Minister Satyendar Jain were also present as military contingents, dance troupes and tableaux from various states rolled down the majestic Rajpath.

The seating arrangements of several other top leaders like Congress President Sonia Gandhi and BJP President Amit Shah also came under focus of roving TV cameras.

Sonia and Shah were seated in the same row, with a gap of two seats between the two, as they cheered the marching contingents, esecially young cadets from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and boisterous cultural performances.

BJP patriarch L K Advani and his daughter Pratibha Advani sat close by as well. TV cameras frequently captured Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, cheering and clapping.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Justice of India T S Thakur sat next to each other in the front row of the VIP enclosure.

Meanwhile, Delhi, which last showcased a tableau in 2013 parade, did not have one this year too.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had triggered a political controversy last year by claiming that Kejriwal had not been invited to attend the parade which had US President Barack Obama as the Chief Guest. The allegations had come amidst a bitter electoral battle being fought then.

Kejriwal and Jung have been involved in a protracted tussle over several issues since the AAP government assumed office in February last year, including over the control of Delhi Police and the Anti-Corruption Branch of the Delhi government.