Ag over absence of IUML colours in Wayanad
“Why did you [Congress] conceal the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)
ag,” CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat thundered at Tuesday’s Left Democratic Front rally in the Wayanad constituency.
Flanked by LDF candidate Annie Raja, Ms. Karat attempted to score a political point over the Congress by spotlighting the glaring absence of IUML colours at Congress candidate Rahul Gandhi’s roadshows in the constituency. She tapped into the arguably impairing political optics of the absence of IUML colours at United Democratic Front’s rallies in Wayanad to put Mr Gandhi’s party on the defence.
Respect to ally
Ms. Karat also created political theatre by raising the INL’s almost identical green and crescent standards. She juxtaposed the INL’s green pennant with the iconic red ags of the CPI(M) and CPI. “We have the red ag of the communist parties next to INL banners. The INL is a respected LDF ally”, she said.
Ms. Karat appeared to cast the UDF’s avoidance of IUML colours as cowardly political puppetry to avoid falling into the BJP’s stratagem of falsely portraying the Congress’ ally’s standards as the national colours of Pakistan.
The LDF also aimed to deprive Wayanad’s IUML voters of their sense of belonging in the Congress fold. The LDF seemed not to have lost sight of the fact that Muslims voters formed a crucial part in Mr Gandhi’s constituency and a sizeable number of them hewed to the IUML’s politics.
CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan sought to capitalise on the Congress’ “dilemma” in Wayanad. “The Congress covets IUML votes but is embarrassed to be seen alongside its closest ally’s banners,” he said.
Mr. Govindan said the
Congress kept away its tricolour pennants from Mr. Gandhi’s rallies as a grudging trade-o for the IUML keeping its standards out of sight.
‘Bid to aid BJP agenda’
The IUML and the Congress have hit back by accusing the CPI(M) of aiding the BJP’s agenda by harping on the absence of ags. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee acting president M.M. Hassan said the CPI(M) need not sit in judgment of UDF’s campaign tactics.
It remains to be seen how UDF’s broader strategy of dodging the Sangh Parivar’s eort to in ame culture wars around IUML’s party symbol would play out in Wayanad.