CPI(M) accuses KPCC digital cell of throwing a lifeline to the BJP by correlating ‘Beedis and Biharis’

Excise Minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State Committee member M.B. Rajesh has accused the Congress’ digital cell in Kerala of “throwing a lifeline” to the “politically hemmed-in” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the pivotal Assembly election in Bihar. 

Mr. Rajesh’s social media post on Sunday comes close on the heels of the  Congress’ ‘X’ handle INC@Kerala hastily withdrawing a comment that appeared to draw an equivalence between “Biharis and Beedis”.

An attempt to satirise the Union government’s proposal to slash the tax on beedis ahead of the elections in Bihar ignited controversy, with the BJP portraying the juxtaposition of the words as an “insult to Biharis”.

Mr. Rajesh noted that the comment threatened to retard the political momentum gained by the INDIA bloc’s 16-day Voter Adhikari Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, against “voter list fraud.” He said a livid Mr. Yadav had demanded an apology from the Congress for the callous remark.

Mr. Rajesh wrote that the Congress in Kerala had boosted the BJP’s “flagging fortunes” in Bihar by handing the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) a political weapon to stoke regionalism and identity politics, touting the INC@Kerala’s “faux pas” as patently insulting to Biharis. Mr. Rajesh said the KPCC social media cell had, at a stroke, “wilfully or otherwise”, accorded the BJP a supercharged rhetorical advantage to turn public attention from the Election Commission’s (EC)‘s attempt to disenfranchise voters by conducting Special Intensive Reviews of voter lists ahead of the Bihar polls.

‘Right-wing slant’

“The INC@Kerala has backstabbed the INDIA bloc by arming the BJP,” he said. Without naming Congress leader V.T. Balaram, who heads the KPCC’s digital cell, Mr. Rajesh said that those at its helm have repeatedly broadcast a right-wing slant by lauding demonetisation and disparaging anti-BJP leaders.

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan disavowed any links with the digital cell. “I do not even know if such a thing exists. Some so-called Congress political handles often appear to work for the party’s political detractors. The KPCC should address the issue,” he said.