Congress in Kerala Apologizes for Controversial ‘Beedis and Bihar’ Remark

Quick Summary

• The Kerala Congress faced backlash over a social media post related to the BJP-led Union Government’s proposal to reduce taxes on beedis, removing them from the category of ‘sin goods.’
• The controversial post on X by INC@Kerala stated: “Bidis and Bihar start with B. Cannot be considered sin anymore,” aimed at satirizing Modi’s alleged election tactics targeting rural voters.
• Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary criticized the remark as insulting to biharis, claiming it showed Congress’s “true character.”
• Other BJP leaders, including Ravi Shankar Prasad, condemned the post and asserted that Bihar’s electorate would retaliate against such rhetoric.
• the BJP urged RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav (Congress ally in bihar) to denounce his coalition partner for disrespecting Biharis.
• Congress directed its Kerala unit to delete the post and later apologized via another tweet: “Our apologies if you felt hurt.”
• This is not the first instance of controversy; a previous satire by INC@Kerala during Lok Sabha elections targeting PM Modi had also caused disagreements.

Indian Opinion Analysis

the incident highlights how politically charged rhetoric in India can escalate quickly, especially when regional sentiments come into play. Congress’s comment, intended as satire against governance strategies ahead of elections, inadvertently triggered sensitivities about state identity and culture. While humor is frequently utilized in political commentary across all parties,this episode underscores the risks of alienating voter groups-especially in a vital electoral region like Bihar.

For larger implications, this controversy may prompt parties across political divides to revisit social media strategies where sensitivity toward local communities’ pride is paramount. Furthermore, given past similar instances involving INC@Kerala, these errors could reflect broader challenges for regional party units navigating national narratives without adverse repercussions for allies or coalitions.

Read more: The Hindu