NEW DELHI: The CPI(M) may be struggling to resist the increasing saffronisation in its strongholds in Kerala, but the party has at least succeeded in stalling the saffronisation of its cadre when it comes to their sartorial choices.
The CPI(M) comrades, especially the working class, have decided to shed their saffron colour dhotis—a most common choice till recently—for red mundu (dhoti). This fad, started in the red bastion of Kannur district, is spreading across the state. “Red is the colour of our party. Most comrades are wearing red mundu for every public function. We feel it is more appropriate to wear red than saffron these days,” said a district committee member of CPI(M).
According to him, it is not a party decision. But it has the blessings of the party leadership as the party desperately needs every symbolism to retain its hold over the working class cadre. “The Sangh Parivar is trying every possible trick to win over our comrades. It is important to assert our identity these days,” said the district party leader.
Earlier, saffron dhoti was the most common dress code for the working class people belonging to both the CPI(M) and the RSS. But with saffronisation becoming a wave even in a state like Kerala, which has so far resisted any such attempts, it seems the Left party has had a change of mind.
According to a comrade, the trend started during the party congress which was held earlier this year. The red dhoti, priced around `300, was first produced by the cooperative weaving mills owned by the CPI(M) exclusively during the party congress. But the fad caught on and it spread to other parts of the state. It has even reached places like Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu where the CPI(M) has a significant presence. “We are getting bulk orders from different parts of the state and even from neighbouring states. We are unable to meet the demands these days,” said a secretary of one of the cooperative weaving mills under the party.
Initiated by the Kannur comrades, the trend of red mundu is fast spreading across the state as it is having its local body election. And the comrades are quite happy about this exclusive dress code. “When someone wears a red mundu, it is like a loud declaration that I am a comrade. It is quite a high,” said a party card holder, who always makes it a point to wear it even for family functions like marriage.
But not all are happy with this kind of identity assertion. “Earlier the party had told us to infiltrate into every religious bodies. We were told not to leave saffron colour and temple governing bodies to the RSS. Now when party comrades shed the saffron dhoti for red mundu, it is as if the party has accepted that saffron colour belongs to the RSS. It is a wrong way of combat,’’ said a former party card holder.
The political parties in Kerala is facing a tough task of holding its traditional voters together as the BJP is determined to saffronise the state which has always swayed between the Left and the Congress. The CPI(M) has more reasons to worry than the Congress as it has essentially been a `Hindu party’ with its cadre mostly belonging to the Ezhava and Nair communities.
So for the CPI(M), the change of colour from saffron to red is not just a symbolic act. It is more of an act of survival.