Lok Sabha Polls: Rahul Gandhi Faces Backlash Over 'Absence' of IUML Flag in Wayanad Roadshow

A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi kicked off his poll campaign for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat by holding a roadshow, he faced backlash over the absence of their ally, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)’s flag during the event.

Kerala Chief Pinarayi Vijayan accused the Congress party of not including IUML’s flag in Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow, for the “fear” of BJP.

Vijayan said the stand taken by the grand old party indicates it wants the votes of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) but it is not acknowledging the flag important to the IUML. “The Congress has fallen to a level where it is afraid of communal forces,” the Kerala CM said during a press conference.

Vijayan further alleged that the Congress party was forgetting itself in front of the Sangh Parivar and was scared to show its own flag “which is not expected from a party going to the Lok Sabha as the representatives of the people”.

“They (Congress) need clarity of thought and a firm stand as the people of Kerala will need representatives who can fight on national issues and stand with the public. The LDF is able to do both and that is why there is a popular sentiment in its favour,” he said.

BJP leader and Union Minister Smriti Irani also slammed the Wayanad MP accusing him of being “ashamed” of party ally IUML for not having its flag in his roadshow.

Campaigning for the BJP in Wayanad, the hill constituency Rahul Gandhi currently represents, Smriti Irani said if the Congress leader was ashamed of the IUM, he should reject their support. The BJP has fielded K Surendran from Wayanad against Rahul Gandhi.

The Union Minister for Women and Child Development, who had defeated Gandhi in Amethi in the 2019 general elections, accused him of being silent over the alleged misgovernance by the Left Front in Kerala.

“Scams in cooperative banks in Kerala, mismanagement of state funds, the silence of Rahul Gandhi on these issues, especially the misgovernance of the INDI alliance partner — the Left front — speaks volumes. Rahul Gandhi would rather have power than have good governance,” Irani said.

(With PTI inputs)