Party flags conspicuously absent at Rahul roadshow, CPM takes a dig

KOZHIKODE: CPM took a dig at Congress over the absence of party flags of both Congress and IUML during Rahul Gandhi’s nomination roadshow in Wayanad, Kerala, on Wednesday.
Interestingly, instead of party flags of UDF allies, thousands of party activists in white and wearing tricolour hats held placards with images of Gandhi and tricolour balloons.
BJP politicians had carried out a campaign after misinterpreting IUML’s green flag as Pakistan flags during Gandhi’s nomination roadshow in 2019.The roadshow organisers wanted to avoid a similar situation this time.
At a rally at Malappuram, CPM state secretary M V Govindan said UDF activists were asked not to bring flags because if flags were brought then IUML flags would have been the most prominent.
“What would be the scene in north India if IUML flags are seen along with Congress flags? So, Congress told League not to bring their flags, and when League asked what about Congress flags, they decided that no one shall bring their flags,” he said.
Meanwhile, Congress’s Kalpetta MLA T Siddique said it was not the party flag but the poll symbol that was most important in an election. CPM is resorting to cheap politics as they don’t have any other issue, he added.
“Rahul Gandhi is the candidate and his election symbol is the ‘Hand’. UDF is an alliance with many parties and our slogan in Wayanad is ‘Many parties, one candidate, one symbol’. So, we decided to go ahead by projecting the candidate’s photograph and the symbol,” he said.