Rahul’s Wayanad campaign to be devoid of flags: Hassan

The KPCC acting chief declines to give any reason for the decision to not allow any flags of Congress or its allies during his poll campaign; only party symbols to be used

No party flags will be used for Rahul Gandhi’s election campaign in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) acting chief M.M. Hassan said on Saturday.

Mr. Hassan, who is also the United Democratic Front (UDF) convener, said that a decision has been taken not to use any flags of the Congress or its allies during the poll campaign of Mr. Gandhi next week in the constituency. However, he refused to give any reason for taking the decision.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference here, the UDF convener said that there is no need to communicate to the media the reasons behind the party’s decision. “It is sufficient to say that no flags will be used during his campaign in Wayanad. Only party symbols will be used,” Mr. Hassan said in response to repeated queries by reporters regarding the reason for such a decision.

The Congress party’s decision not use its or ally Indian Union Muslim League’s (IUML) flags dur

CPI(M) had alleged that the flags were not used in earlier rally as the party was scared of BJP

ing Mr. Gandhi’s roadshow in Wayanad earlier this month gave space for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] to take political potshots at the party.

While the CPI(M) had alleged that the flags were not used as the Congress was scared of the BJP, the saffron party had claimed it was because Mr. Gandhi was ashamed of the IUML and asked him to reject its support.

The Congress had hit back by saying that the CPI (M) and the BJP have become close friends and had asserted that it does not need any classes from anyone on how to carry out a poll campaign.

Mr. Gandhi’s roadshow in Wayanad on April 3 was visibly different from that in 2019 when green flags of ally IUML outnumbered the Congress’ in the crowd. This time, both the flags were conspicuous by their absence.

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