The traditional chief guest not even invited!

A cold war raging between two political bigwigs at provincial level had come out into the open for all to see at a commemorative ceremony held in the upcountry recently.
It had been the tradition followed so far for this commemorative ceremony to be held with the governing one as the chief guest. However, while the governing one was conspicuous by his absence at this year’s commemorative ceremony, it was a political high-up at a national level, a buddy of his antagonist who attended this event as the chief guest.
The usual mounted escort feature too was missing from this year’s celebration.
The governing one had not even received a formal invitation to this year’s ceremony, they say.