Overview

• Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee deleted an X post that read, “Bidis and Bihar start with B. Cannot be considered a sin anymore,” shared with a graphic showing bidi GST cut to 18% and cigarettes/tobacco at 40%.
• BJP figures including Shehzad Poonawalla and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary condemned the message as an insult to the state, using it in pre-election messaging.
• KPCC issued a public apology, with state president Sunny Joseph calling the post a mistake and a lapse in caution and stating that Congress does not endorse it.
• Sunny Joseph said the party will reconstitute its Kerala social-media cell; VT Balram, who oversees the unit, said he would step down, with multiple outlets reporting his resignation.
• RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and other allies distanced themselves and called for an apology, adding pressure on Congress as Bihar heads toward assembly elections.