A single social media post by the Kerala Congress unit has ignited a major political storm, with the BJP and its ally JDU accusing the party of humiliating Bihar after it linked the state with bidis in a controversial remark.
The now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) read: “Bidis and Bihar start with B and cannot be considered a sin anymore” — a comment made in the backdrop of the GST Council’s decision to cut tax on bidis from 28% to 18%. Within hours, the outrage forced the Congress unit to pull down the message, but the damage was already done.
पहले हमारे माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी की पूजनीय माता जी का अपमान और अब पूरे बिहार का अपमान — यही है कांग्रेस का असली चरित्र, जो बार-बार देश के सामने उजागर हो रहा है। pic.twitter.com/VvliP16tTJ
— Samrat Choudhary (@samrat4bjp) September 5, 2025
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary blasted the Congress for what he called a pattern of “disrespect.” He declared, “First, they insulted the revered mother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, and now they insult the entire Bihar. This is the true character of Congress, exposed again before the nation.”
Adding to the uproar, JDU heavyweight and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha lashed out, describing the post as “another extremely shameful act.” Striking back in Hindi, he said, “B doesn’t just mean bidi, it also means buddhi (intellect), which Congress lacks. B also stands for budget, which makes them jealous when Bihar receives assistance.” He further warned that Bihar’s people would give a “fitting reply” in the upcoming elections.
The controversy comes at a sensitive moment as Bihar heads toward polls later this year. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla sharpened the attack, branding the tweet a reflection of “anti-Bihar mentality.” In a fiery post, he wrote: “If B is for Bidis and Bihar, then C is also for Congress and for corruption.”
Meanwhile, the GST Council’s decision — the context for the row — marks one of the most sweeping reforms since its inception. Apart from lowering tax on bidis and tendu leaves, the Council has proposed simplifying GST into a dual-slab system of 5% and 18%, with a special 40% rate reserved for luxury items and tobacco products.
