CPI(M) raises a red flag over absence of IUML colours in Wayanad

Brinda Karat questions Congress's absence of IUML flag at rallies, highlighting political optics in Wayanad LDF rally.

Thiruvananthapuram

“Why did you (Congress) conceal the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) flag,” CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat thundered at Tuesday’s LDF rally in the Wayanad constituency.

Flanked by the LDF’s candidate, Annie Raja, Ms. Karat attempted to score a political point over the Congress by spotlighting the glaring absence of IUML colours at Rahul Gandhi’s rallies and roadshows in the constituency.

She tapped into the arguably impairing political optics of the absence of IUML colours at UDF’s rallies in Wayanad to put Mr Gandhi’s party on the defence.

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 flags of the CPI(M) and CPI.

“We have the red flag of the communist parties next to INL banners. 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’s ally’s standards as the national colours of Pakistan.