Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Questions Congress’ Absent Flags in Rahul Gandhi’s Wayanad Roadshow

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, during a press conference in Kochi as part of his election campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, raised questions regarding the absence of flags from the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) during incumbent MP Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow ahead of filing his nomination papers in Wayanad on April 3.

Vijayan questioned whether the Congress was fearful of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), insinuating that the absence of their flags might indicate such apprehension. He speculated whether the Congress was succumbing to pressure from the BJP, suggesting a demand for the Congress to relinquish their tri-colored flag. Furthermore, Vijayan pondered whether the decision to omit the IUML flag was influenced by past controversies, such as the BJP’s “Pakistan jibe” during Gandhi’s 2019 campaign in Wayanad.

Accusing the Congress of cowardice for not displaying the IUML flag, Vijayan emphasized the significance of the tri-colored flag as a symbol of India’s freedom fighters and martyrs. He suggested that the Congress may have forgotten the sacrifices made to uphold the flag, which represents the voice of the people.

Addressing reports of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) planning to implicate more CPI(M) leaders in the Karuvannur cooperative bank scam, Vijayan denied any involvement, asserting that the party had no secret accounts and maintained transparency in its financial dealings.

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Vijayan criticized the BJP-led NDA government for allegedly using central agencies against the opposition, citing the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the ED as an example. He accused the Congress of inconsistency in its stance towards the ED, alleging that the party spoke against the agency when its leaders were under scrutiny but supported it when targeting others.

Additionally, Vijayan claimed that the support extended by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) to the United Democratic Front in the Lok Sabha elections was part of a deal between the two parties.