Kerala Congress social media head quits after row over ‘Bidi-Bihar’ post

VT Balram, a two-time MLA from Thrithala and until recently chief of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee’s (KPCC) social media and digital cell, resigned a day after the KPCC’s official account on X shared a message linking Bihar with bidis against the backdrop of the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) changes, NDTV reported.

The since-deleted post had stated: “Bidis and Bihar start from B. Cannot be considered a sin anymore.”

The remark, referencing the GST Council’s move to lower the levy on bidis from 28 percent to 18 percent while hiking taxes on cigarettes, was widely condemned as disparaging towards Bihar and its people.

Bihar remains one of India’s largest centres of bidi production, with the industry employing an estimated 70 lakh workers across the country.

Backlash was immediate, cutting across political lines.

Leaders of the NDA in Bihar accused the Congress of belittling the state, while its ally RJD rushed to disassociate itself from the comments.

Balram, who had been incharge og KPCC’s social media operations since Dr P Sarin quit last year to join the CPI(M), informed party leaders of his decision to step aside as the controversy intensified, the report said.

The post surfaced just after the GST Council rolled out significant reforms, simplifying the tax structure and revising rates for tobacco products.

While cigarettes continued to attract higher duties, bidis were placed in the 18 percent bracket, and tendu leaves—the wrappers used for bidis—were taxed at only 5 percent.

Following the uproar, the KPCC removed the post and issued an apology.

“We see that our jibe at Modi’s election gimmick with GST rates is being twisted. Our apologies if you felt hurt,” it said in a follow-up message.