NEW DELHI: What began as a rhetorical flourish at a Congress rally in Bihar has escalated into a full-blown political firestorm, exposing the raw nerves of identity politics and the increasingly personal nature of India’s electoral battles. The controversy erupted when a senior Congress leader, attempting to draw a contrast between the ruling BJP and his own party, quipped, “BJP’s B stands for Bidi, and Bihar also starts with B – this is the only connection they have with the state.”
The remark, intended as a critique of the central government’s economic policies and their impact on Bihar’s predominantly agricultural and informal workforce, including bidi workers, was immediately weaponized by the BJP’s formidable media machinery. Within hours, BJP spokespersons launched a counteroffensive, not just defending their record but personally targeting Congress leadership. “For Congress, B should stand for ‘Budhiheen’ (devoid of intellect),” retorted a prominent BJP spokesperson, adding, “Their leadership has consistently failed to understand the aspirations of New India and continues to rely on stale and insulting wordplay.”
This exchange, while appearing frivolous on the surface, is anything but. It is a microcosm of the high-stakes political combat defining the run-up to the next general election and crucial state assemblies. For the Congress, the ‘Bidi’ jibe was a calculated attempt to anchor the BJP to specific, tangible economic grievances – the stagnation of wages in the unorganized sector, the struggles of small-scale industries like bidi production, and the perceived neglect of states like Bihar. It was an effort to shift the discourse from grand narratives of nationalism and development to kitchen-table issues of livelihood.
The BJP’s response, pivoting to an ad hominem attack of ‘Budhiheen,’ reveals a different strategy: to frame the opposition as intellectually bankrupt and unfit to govern. This is not merely name-calling; it is a deliberate tactic to dismiss policy critiques by attacking the credibility and competence of the messenger. The speed and ferocity of the counter-attack also underscore the BJP’s determination to control the political narrative and not cede an inch of ground, even on what might seem like minor skirmishes.
Beyond the immediate tit-for-tat, this incident lays bare several deeper trends in Indian politics. First is the continued centrality of Bihar as a key electoral battleground. Political parties are finely attuned to the state’s complex caste equations and economic vulnerabilities. Any perceived slight, or any attempt to define the state’s identity, is met with immediate and fierce reaction. The Congress’s remark, though aimed at the BJP, risked being interpreted as a condescending take on Bihar itself, a charge the BJP was quick to level.
Second, it highlights the evolution of political rhetoric. The era of long, policy-heavy speeches is increasingly giving way to sharp, viral-ready soundbites designed for social media amplification and news channel debates. The ‘B for Bidi’ and ‘B for Budhiheen’ exchange is a perfect specimen of this trend – easily digestible, emotionally charged, and capable of triggering outrage and support in equal measure.
Third, and most importantly, it reflects the battle over who gets to define the terms of political engagement. The Congress attempted to frame the debate around economics and regional representation. The BJP successfully reframed it around leadership and intelligence. Who wins this battle of frames often determines who wins the electoral war.
As the dust settles on this particular skirmish, the aftermath is telling. Congress spokespersons have since clarified that their comment was aimed solely at the BJP’s policies and was not a commentary on the people of Bihar or the bidi industry. The BJP, however, shows no sign of relenting, continuing to use the episode to paint the entire opposition alliance as insensitive and out of touch.
This ‘alphabet war’ may soon be forgotten, but the underlying tensions it reveals – between national and regional identity, between personal attacks and policy debates, and between competing visions of India’s economic future – will continue to dominate the political landscape long after the headlines have faded. The real victory will not go to the party with the cleverest acronym, but to the one that successfully convinces voters that its frame for understanding India’s challenges is the right one.
