The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has removed Vijay Thottathil from his position in the party’s media cell after a controversial X post targeting Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant. The controversial post, published on 12th October on the official X account of Congress Kerala, sparked intense criticism, prompting the KPCC to tender an unconditional apology to the Chief Justice on Tuesday, 27th October.
The controversy erupted during a march to the Supreme Court organised by the opposition INDIA bloc, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. When the Chief Justice indicated that he could not meet the alliance leaders due to legal constraints, the Kerala Congress handle posted remarks calling for his resignation: “Dear Surya Kant, if law and order is not your domain, resign now. We will find your replacement who can handle it.”
Following a legal notice received on 21st October, KPCC president Sunny Joseph alleged that the post was published by Vijay Thottathil without the knowledge or authorisation of the party leadership.
The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has tendered an unconditional apology to Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant over a controversial post published on the official X account of the Congress Kerala unit. In its reply to a legal notice, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the post was published by Vijay Thottathil without the knowledge or approval of the party leadership. Vijay Thottathil has been removed from his position and asked to issue a public apology, the reply stated
— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2026
Joseph stated that Thottathil had been removed from his post and directed to issue a public apology. Withdrawing the remarks and expressing regret, the KPCC asserted respect for the Constitution and judicial independence, stating that “the demand for resignation and the suggestion of finding a replacement for the Chief Justice were inappropriate and should not have appeared on an official party platform.”
Who is Vijay Thottathil?
Vijay Thottathil is an active political volunteer and digital media cell member for the Congress party in Kerala. Calling himself a social media activist, he has been a prominent face in managing and shaping online propaganda for the party in the state. He is also a columnist for the leftist media website ‘The News Minute’.
This latest incident is not the first time the Kerala Congress social media handle has landed in trouble during Vijay Thottathil’s tenure in the media cell. In 2024, a major political storm broke out over another controversial post made from the party handle regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Pope Francis at the G7 summit in Italy.
The post featured a photo of PM Modi alongside the Pope with the caption, “Finally, the Pope got a chance to meet God!”, wilfully misconstruing an earlier statement by PM Modi about being sent by God for a purpose.
Facing severe outrage from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and accusations of disrespecting religious sentiments, the Congress unit had to delete the post, and the party later issued an apology for causing “any emotional or psychological distress to Christians,” while adding that political leaders remain subject to criticism. Reports at the time highlighted that a 26-member team led by Kozhikode-based Vijay Thottathil was operating the handle.
Defence of Kashi Art Café row
More recently, Vijay Thottathil posted several comments surrounding the social media storm over Fort Kochi’s ‘Kashi Art Café’. The café, named after a Hindu god, attracted controversy online after a vlogger highlighted that it displayed portraits of Pakistan’s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah alongside Mahatma Gandhi while serving beef dishes.
Thottathil took to X to aggressively defend the establishment while launching an all-out attack on people raising genuine concerns, writing: “Now the problem is that Sanghis are jealous of Kerala & its people who live in peace and harmony; they just want to destroy it.”
Never expect anything better from a person like him, he doesn’t even know the importance of this artwork at Kashi art cafe! This was in news in 2012 & no Sanghis made a news of it. Now the problem is that Sanghis are jealous of Kerala & its people who live in peace and harmony, they just want to destroy it and make it another north state & opportunists like Rajeev add oil in the fire. https://t.co/9KiEEx7frg
— Vijay Thottathil (@vijaythottathil) October 25, 2026
Rather than addressing the genuine public outrage over the café’s decision to display the portrait of Pakistan’s founder alongside Mahatma Gandhi or the controversy surrounding its name, Thottathil dismissed legitimate criticism by framing it as a regional and political conspiracy. He went on to malign content creators from other states, posting in another contentious tweet, saying, “A few Sanghi bloggers from North India are coming to Kerala, making videos claiming the state needs to be ‘saved’ from Muslim control. Any attempt to spread fake news & create communal tensions will be dealt with seriously by Kerala Police.”
A few Sanghi bloggers from North India are coming to Kerala, making videos claiming the state needs to be “saved” from Muslim control. Kerala doesn’t need these self-appointed saviours who arrive with a communal agenda, manufacture fear and peddle divisive propaganda for views. Any attempt to spread fake news & create communal tensions will be dealt seriously by @TheKeralaPolice
— Vijay Thottathil (@vijaythottathil) October 24, 2026
These statements sparked significant backlash for weaponising state law enforcement as a tool to silence independent commentary, while using polarising, anti-North Indian rhetoric to shut down public debate over cultural and historical sensitivities.
Notably, Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan also accused vlogger Amrit Singh Darren of spreading communal hatred after he uploaded the video. The Chief Minister saw nothing objectionable in displaying Jinnah’s portrait alongside beef options on the menu of an establishment named after a Hindu deity, choosing instead to target the vlogger for raising the issue.
Post following Kharge’s remarks on PM Modi
Thottathil also amplified the recent controversial statements made by Congress leadership. Following Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s derogatory remark aimed at Prime Minister Modi, stating “Modi ka baap bhi jayega”, Thottathil backed the sentiment on social media by drawing parallels with recent international presidential elections.
Comparing the Indian political scene to global political shifts, Thottathil wrote on X: “Right-wing (RW) rule has been dramatically rejected by the people in both Brazil and Serbia, but in India people alone can’t do it as Modi has CEC with him! Jana To Padega..”
Right-wing (RW) rule has been dramatically rejected by the people in both Brazil and Serbia but in India people alone can’t do it as Modi have CEC with him! Jana To Padega..
— Vijay Thottathil (@vijaythottathil) October 26, 2026
Allegations surrounding the Rafale Deal
His history of aggressive political commentary online extends back several years. In 2021, Thottathil was among the Congress leaders actively promoting reports alleging corruption and bribery in the Rafale fighter jet deal.
Targeting the Prime Minister’s anti-corruption plank, he posted on his X account: “& Modi says, he is a Chowkidar who will stop all corruption! ED/CBI were all awake and kept quiet; what a sad state of affairs. India is a Banana Republic now.” He routinely accompanied his posts with campaign slogans and hashtags such as #Chowkidarchorhai.
Thottathil even tried to portray Rahul Gandhi as a political martyr after he was convicted by a Surat court for defaming the socially backward ‘Modi community’ and subsequently disqualified from the Lok Sabha. He wrote, “Rahul Gandhi vacates his house, says I’m paying the price for speaking the truth. We are with you in this fight, dear Rahul.”
Thottathil has repeatedly courted controversy, and his actions now appear to have caught up with him after he took aim at the judiciary.
