BJP's Kiran Bedi at the Republic Day celebrations.
Kiran Bedi, the BJP's chief ministerial candidate, mocked her former associate turned rival, Arvind Kejriwal, saying he was "playing sob-sob" at not being invited to the Republic Day parade.
"I think he is playing sob sob. I think he must grow up," said Ms Bedi, who was seen in the front row with top dignitaries during Monday's celebrations at Delhi's Rajpath, attended by US President Barack Obama.
"Invitations come not when you desire. They come by something else but they are never demanded, they come by rules and regulations, by protocols whatever it is," Ms Bedi told a TV channel.
Ms Bedi had led the Delhi Police contingent at the Republic Day parade in 1975.
Mr Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party has accused the government of "politicising" the occasion by not inviting him.
"Kiran Bedi is invited/given front row. Arvind was not even extended invitation for Republic day parade. Politics even this pious day? Shame," tweeted AAP's Ashutosh.
"A sacred occasion like the Republic Day is being politicised, the camera was focusing a little extra on (Kiran Bedi). I do hope the Election Commission was watching," added another leader of the party, Yogendra Yadav.
The intense rivalry between Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal - who worked together in 2011 as part of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign - has defined the lead-up to the February 7 Delhi assembly polls.
Mr Kejriwal, who was Delhi's chief minister for 49 days last year, had alleged that he had not received any invitation to from the Centre to the Republic Day parade.
"I haven't got any invitation. If protocol says it should be sent, then they should have sent it to me. If not, then they shouldn't. There shouldn't be any politics over it," Mr Kejriwal had told reporters.
The BJP rubbished AAP's criticism saying Mr Kejriwal would have been extended a "special invitation" if he had requested.
"The Republic Day celebration is for the common man. Right from the beginning, he was against VIP culture. Now he says he will only attend Republic Day on invitation?" questioned party spokesperson Sambit Patra.
The government has said that former chief ministers are not on the protocol list.