A Congress insider said tensions between the digital wing and Satheesan existed from the beginning. During both Anil K Antony and P Sarin's leadership, workers expressed dissatisfaction, citing lack of recognition.
Published Sep 10, 2025 | 4:23 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 10, 2025 | 4:23 PM
VT Balram (in dhoti) with Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. (File pic)
Synopsis: An apparent bid to take a dig at the NDA backfired when Congress Kerala’s Digital Media Cell found an uncanny link with beedis and Bihar. The controversial post exposed the divisions within Congress and the party’s failure in reaching out to today’s tech-savvy, knowledgeable youth.
Beedi is injurious to unity; the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has learnt the hard way.
KPCC’s Digital Media Cell made a post on X, to taunt the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s decision to slash the tax on beedis to 18 percent from 28 percent, while hiking the tax on tobacco and other related products.
The now-deleted post hinted that the cut in tax on beedis amounted to gerrymandering since Bihar is set to elect a new Assembly. It also led to an interpretation that Biharis smoke more beedis.
“Bidis and Bihar starts with a B. Cannot be considered a sin anymore [sic],” the post said.
The Cell’s decision to “light up” a beedi soon backfired, leaving opposition leaders, including Congress’s ally in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, fuming.
Even as the controversy spewed smoke and embers, focus fell on VT Balram, KPCC vice-president and chairman of the Digital Media Cell. Balram, a former MLA, denied role in the post, but insisted that insulting Bihar was not the Cell’s intent.
The now-deleted controversial post.
However, KPCC president Sunny Joseph and Leader of the Opposition, VD Satheesan, offered contradicting versions.
Joseph clarified that a professional team managed the posts and not Balram. He even accused the media of unfairly targeting the young leader. He asserted that Balram was still in charge of the Cell, with no suspension or disciplinary action initiated against him. However, he hinted that the wing might be reorganised.
Satheesan gave an O Henry-like twist to the controversy. The Opposition leader said he was unaware of the existence of a Digital Media Cell in the Congress! The remark went viral.
A Congress insider said tensions between the digital wing and Satheesan existed from the beginning. During both Anil K Antony and P Sarin’s leadership, workers expressed dissatisfaction, citing lack of recognition.
KPCC IT Cell Coordinator Unni clarified that the Opposition Leader’s social media page is managed by a separate team. He said the leader not always retweeting Digital Wing posts was not intentional, as he holds his own views while remaining aligned with the party.
On his earlier remark about being unaware of the Digital Wing, Unni admitted it was made in anger and stressed that all Congress leaders are well aware of the wing.
Balram told South First that mainstream media often fuels confusion with unnecessary reports. On Satheesan’s response, he clarified it had no link to the Beedi–Bihar row.
Admitting the controversial post was a mistake, he dismissed it as part of the BJP IT Cell’s wider strategy to harm Congress. He also revealed plans to revamp the digital team with greater professionalism.
Congress supporter Prajeesh Preman, however, suggested the rift runs deeper. In a Facebook post, he said both the official and a rebel digital faction have long been in conflict, now spilling out ahead of elections.
”These clashes damage the party. Neither group shows real commitment, they are seeking personal vengeance. Some just want to target Satheesan. It’s time to end this so-called conflict. Enough is enough,” he wrote.
Incidentally, this was not first time that the Digital Cell had ended with egg on its face.
Preity Zinta vs Congress digital cell.
Though Satheesan has been “unaware” of its existence, the Cell grabbed national attention in February this year, after it alleged that actor and co-owner of IPL team Punjab Kings, Preity Zinta, had handed over her social media accounts to the BJP for an ₹18 crore loan waiver.
The allegation was linked to the RBI’s dissolution of New India Co-operative Bank over alleged irregularities.
Zinta hit back, calling the post on the Congress’s official handle fake and vile gossip. The actor clarified that she had repaid her loan over a decade ago and still managed her social media accounts.
Congress Kerala saved its skin by issuing a clarification, saying it had only shared media reports, welcomed her denial, and urged her to stand with depositors affected by the bank’s collapse.
In Kerala, the Congress party arguably runs the most disorganised cyber wing. Once helmed by Anil Antony, who later crossed over to the BJP, and then by P Sarin, now aligned with the CPI(M), the unit has struggled with stability.
The Left’s digital team, despite internal challenges, has maintained more cohesion. For example, PV Anvar, once a vocal champion of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was targeted and vilified by the CPI(M) networks after he raised the flag of revolt against “Pinarayism” and left the LDF.
The same online networks had once applauded him.
In contrast, the BJP’s digital arm, both nationally and in Kerala, has built a reputation for being disciplined and consistent. Political parties view social media as an essential battleground, pouring resources into teams dedicated to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X, and WhatsApp.
This direct engagement has allowed them, most notably the BJP, which pioneered the model, to sidestep traditional media and connect with young, tech-savvy voters. In the process, the so-called “mainstream” media often finds itself left out.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
