Kerala Congress social media head quits amid Bihar backlash

After its controversial “Bidis and Bihar begin with B…” tweet invited the wrath of political parties in poll-bound Bihar, including ally RJD, and embarrassed the Congress central leadership, the Congress party’s Kerala unit social media head resigned from the post on Saturday. PCC president Sunny Joseph said the controversial (and now deleted) social media post was a mistake and that the state unit’s entire social media team would be revamped.

The controversial post – “Bidis and Bihar begin with B. Cannot be considered a sin any more” – was seen as a misfired sarcastic attempt to link the proposed hike in GST for tobacco products with an insinuation that the entire rationalisation of the tax regime was done with an eye on the Bihar Assembly election. It had to be deleted after political backlash from Bihar parties.

Kerala PCC president Sunny Joseph told mediapersons: “There should have been more restraint about the Congress posts. Carelessness and indiscretion happened. As soon as it was noted, it was withdrawn with an apology.” Social media in-charge V.T. Balram said the post was done without his knowledge and expressed his desire to relinquish charge. He added that the Kerala Congress social media wing would be revamped.

The AICC was forced to convey its displeasure to the Kerala PCC leadership after Bihar’s ruling BJP-JDU argued that the controversial post was a “Congress attempt to insult people of Bihar.” Congress ally Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD also demanded an apology for the post.