Kerala Congress removes official over anti-CJI post on party X account
Synopsis
A post demanding Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's resignation, published on the Kerala Congress party's official X account, has triggered a political storm. The state Congress president has removed the person responsible and distanced the party from the message — but the episode has exposed serious accountability gaps in how major political parties manage their official social media presence.
Key Takeaways
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) removed the official responsible for a controversial post against Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on 12 October 2026 .
The post demanded the CJI's resignation , stating: 'if law and order is not your domain, resign now.' State Congress President Sunny Joseph said the post was published without the knowledge or consent of the state leadership.
The BJP 's Kerala unit accused Congress of attempting to intimidate the judiciary; Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also criticised the party.
An internal examination into the circumstances surrounding the post has been ordered by Sunny Joseph .
The post was subsequently deleted from the official KPCC X account.
The Indian National Congress Kerala unit has removed the person responsible for publishing a controversial post against Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on the party's official X account, state Congress President Sunny Joseph confirmed on Monday, 12 October 2026. Joseph, who also serves as the state Power Minister, said the post was uploaded without the knowledge, consent, or consultation of the state unit's leadership.
What the Post Said
The now-deleted message directly addressed the Chief Justice by name, reading: 'Dear Surya Kant, if law and order is not your domain, resign now. We will find your replacement who can handle it.' The post was published on the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) official X handle and drew immediate and sharp criticism before being taken down.
State Congress Leadership's Response
Distancing the party from the content, Sunny Joseph stated: 'The Congress party has no disagreement whatsoever with regard to the impartiality of the judiciary.' He made clear that social media posts expressing views contrary to this position did not represent the stand of the KPCC leadership. Joseph added that the party would examine the circumstances that led to the publication of the message, signalling an internal inquiry into how the post came to appear on the official account.
Political Fallout and BJP's Attack
The episode drew swift condemnation from political rivals. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Kerala unit accused the Congress of attempting to intimidate the judiciary. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also publicly criticised the Congress over the controversy. This comes amid an already charged political climate around judicial appointments and the relationship between political parties and the higher judiciary in India.
Scrutiny Over Social Media Accountability
The incident has placed the Kerala Congress unit under broader scrutiny over its social media communication practices and the accountability attached to statements issued in the party's name. Notably, the episode raises questions about internal access controls on official party accounts — an issue that has repeatedly surfaced across political organisations in India. By ordering a formal examination, Joseph indicated the party intends to prevent a recurrence, though the internal findings have not yet been made public.
The KPCC is expected to tighten its social media protocols following the episode, with the outcome of its internal review awaited.
Point of View
But the episode is harder to dismiss as a rogue act once you consider that the post appeared on an official, verified party account. The speed of the removal and the careful distancing language from Sunny Joseph suggest the leadership is acutely aware of the legal and reputational exposure — attacking the Chief Justice by name and demanding resignation crosses a line that courts have historically treated seriously. More broadly, this is part of a pattern: political parties across the spectrum have struggled to maintain discipline over who holds the keys to high-follower official accounts. The BJP's predictable counter-attack is legitimate on this occasion, even if the broader political context around judicial criticism is far more complex. The real question — who authorised account access to the person responsible — remains unanswered.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the controversial post published on the Kerala Congress X account?
The post directly addressed Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, reading: 'Dear Surya Kant, if law and order is not your domain, resign now. We will find your replacement who can handle it.' It was published on the KPCC's official X handle and subsequently deleted after drawing widespread criticism.
Who is Sunny Joseph and what action did he take?
Sunny Joseph is the President of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and the state's Power Minister. He confirmed on 12 October 2026 that the person responsible for the post had been removed, and ordered an internal examination into how the message came to be published on the official account.
Why did the post cause controversy?
The post was seen as an attack on the impartiality of the judiciary, demanding the resignation of the sitting Chief Justice of India by name. The BJP accused Congress of attempting to intimidate the judiciary, and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also publicly criticised the party over the incident.
Does the Congress party endorse the views expressed in the post?
No. Sunny Joseph explicitly stated that 'the Congress party has no disagreement whatsoever with regard to the impartiality of the judiciary,' and made clear the post did not represent the KPCC leadership's position. The post was removed and the responsible official was taken off the role.
What happens next following the KPCC social media controversy?
The KPCC has initiated an internal examination into the circumstances that led to the post's publication. The findings have not yet been made public. The party is also expected to review its social media access and communication protocols to prevent a recurrence.
