The Congress, which was perhaps the first to adopt khadi as its second skin, is also divided on the point.

“Khadi has always been special for us. However, more than kurtas, it is the Gandhi cap that is significant.

“Even Rajiv Gandhi used to wear the topee. Except for very senior leaders, no one wears the topee. Most leaders wear khadi on particular functions only,” said Youth Congress worker Ajay Rai. However, senior Congress leaders are divided on the issue.

The Left parties do not favour khadi. They do not want to be identified with the “typical bandwagon”.

“There is no fixed rule regarding the use of khadi. It has been branded the politicians’ attire and commoners do not want to use it. We want to wear simple clothes and identify ourselves with the masses.

The impression is that men in khadi are generally corrupt and we don’t want to be a part of that,” said CPI member Hasib Ansari.