From saffron to tricolour: Kerala BJP eyes to reframe Bharat Mata row with flag shift, targets state govt

The Kerala unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has posted images of Bharat Mata holding the national tricolour on its official Facebook page, in what appears to be a calculated political move. The party is trying to turn the recent controversy over the saffron flag at Raj Bhavan into an opportunity to attack the state government.

The row began after a portrait at the Governor’s residence, Raj Bhavan, showed Bharat Mata seated on a lion and holding a saffron flag—a symbol often linked with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The Kerala government raised strong objections, and two cabinet ministers boycotted Raj Bhavan events in protest.

The state government clarified that it had no objection to Bharat Mata, but criticised the use of the saffron flag in an official setting. It said the national flag alone should represent a secular and democratic government event.

Amid this, the BJP’s digital posts show Bharat Mata holding the national tricolour. One such AI-generated image even shows Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan looking visibly upset at the image of Bharat Mata holding the national tricolour.

The new visual approach was also reflected in notices for BJP's Bharat Mata floral tribute event in front of the Secretariat. These notices showed Bharat Mata without the saffron flag—signalling the BJP’s effort to align with constitutional symbolism while keeping the political spotlight on the state government’s stance.

BJP leaders, who earlier defended the saffron flag, now say that they honour both the saffron flag and the national flag alike.