Kerala Congress apologises to CJI Surya Kant over 'resign' post on X
Synopsis
Kerala Congress issued a formal apology to Chief Justice Surya Kant after its official X account posted 'Surya Kant, resign — we will find a replacement for you' during an INDIA bloc protest. KPCC president Sunny Joseph called the post unauthorised and confirmed the removal of Vijay Thottathil, the person responsible — a rare instance of a major party unit publicly disowning content posted from its own verified handle.
Key Takeaways
The KPCC apologised to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on 27 October 2026 over a post on its official X account demanding his resignation.
The post read: 'Surya Kant, resign.
We will find a replacement for you.' KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the post was published without authorisation and did not reflect the party's official position.
Vijay Thottathil was identified as the person responsible and has been removed from the position.
The apology was submitted in reply to a legal notice from a Supreme Court lawyer.
The controversy overshadowed the INDIA bloc's march demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar .
The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, formally apologised to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant over a provocative post published on the party unit's official X account, which had called on the CJI to resign. The apology was submitted in response to a legal notice issued by a Supreme Court lawyer.
What the Post Said
The controversial post, published during a protest march organised by the INDIA bloc, carried the remark: 'Surya Kant, resign. We will find a replacement for you.' It was directed at the head of India's judiciary and followed reports that the Chief Justice had declined to meet INDIA bloc leaders, citing legal constraints. The post triggered immediate political and legal controversy before being withdrawn by the Kerala Congress unit.
KPCC's Response to the Legal Notice
KPCC president Sunny Joseph, who also serves as the State Power Minister, stated in his reply that the post had been published without authorisation and did not reflect the official position of the party. He identified Vijay Thottathil as the person responsible for publishing the post and confirmed that the individual had since been removed from their position. The reply places on record the party's expression of regret to the Chief Justice.
Context: The INDIA Bloc Protest
The march that provided the backdrop for the controversy was organised as part of the opposition alliance's demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest was intended to focus national attention on the electoral accountability debate, but the social media post shifted the narrative to the Kerala Congress unit's own conduct, putting it in an embarrassing position. Notably, the episode undercut the very message the INDIA bloc sought to project — that of holding constitutional functionaries to account.
Political and Legal Fallout
The post drew sharp scrutiny because it was directed at a sitting Chief Justice from a verified official party account, raising questions about oversight of political social media handles. The Supreme Court lawyer who issued the legal notice had flagged the remarks as an attack on the independence of the judiciary. By attributing the post to an unauthorised individual and removing them, the KPCC has sought to contain the legal exposure, though critics argue that the use of a verified official account makes a claim of 'unauthorised publication' difficult to sustain without fuller explanation.
What Happens Next
The KPCC's reply to the legal notice is now on record, and it remains to be seen whether the Supreme Court lawyer accepts the apology or pursues the matter further. The incident is also likely to inform how political parties in India govern access to their official social media accounts, particularly during high-stakes protest actions.
Point of View
The timing could not have been worse.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kerala Congress apologise to CJI Surya Kant?
The KPCC apologised after its official X account posted a message saying 'Surya Kant, resign. We will find a replacement for you,' directed at the Chief Justice of India. The apology was submitted in response to a legal notice from a Supreme Court lawyer, with KPCC president Sunny Joseph calling the post unauthorised.
Who published the controversial post against CJI Surya Kant?
Vijay Thottathil was identified in the KPCC president's reply as the person responsible for publishing the post. Sunny Joseph confirmed that Thottathil has since been removed from the position.
What was the context of the INDIA bloc march to the Supreme Court?
The march was organised by the INDIA bloc opposition alliance to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The controversial social media post, however, shifted public attention away from that demand and onto the Kerala Congress unit's own conduct.
Does the KPCC's apology close the legal matter?
The KPCC has submitted its reply — including the apology and details of action taken — to the Supreme Court lawyer who issued the legal notice. Whether the lawyer accepts the response or pursues the matter further has not been confirmed as of the latest reports.
Why is calling for a Chief Justice's resignation on social media legally sensitive?
In India, publicly targeting the head of the judiciary on a verified official account can attract contempt of court proceedings and raise concerns about attacks on judicial independence. The use of a party's official handle, rather than a personal account, amplified the legal and reputational stakes for the KPCC.
