Ahead of elections, Karnataka govt unveils state flag

Ahead of the assembly elections in 2018, the Congress-led government in Karnataka has unveiled a state flag. It has been send to the Centre for final approval, after which it would be approved as the state flag of Karnataka. CM Siddaramaiah was present when the state flag 'Naada Dwaja' was formally unveiled. 

The tri-coloured flag has red, white and yellow with state emblem “Ganda Bherunda”. a two-headed mythical bird in the middle, which symbolises strength.. This issue is likely to become political ahead of assembly election scheduled to be held in couple of months.  Earlier, the Karnataka government formed a panel to look into the legal sanctity to get its own flag.

A nine member committee was formed to design a 'state' flag and submit a report on giving it legal sanctity. Kannada writer Hampa Nagarajaiah headed the committee which handed over the design to Karnataka CM.  The move by the Siddaramaiah government marks a departure from Karnataka's 2012 stand when the BJP was in office. The then government had told the court that it had not accepted suggestions to declare the red-and-yellow Kannada flag the official state flag, as that would go against the 'unity and integrity of the country'.

Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended the demand for a separate flag for the state, asking if there is any provision in the Constitution that prohibits the state from having its own flag. "Is there any provision in the Constitution which is prohibiting a state to have its own flag? Did BJP people come across any provision,"Siddaramaiah said. Jammu & Kashmir is the only state to have its own flag as it enjoys a special status under Article 370 of the Constitution.