In a startling New Year's Day blunder, subscribers of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) official newspaper in Kerala, Janmabhumi, found content from its ideological opposite in their hands. The newspaper's Kannur–Kasaragod regional edition for January 1 carried the entire editorial page of Chandrika, the daily run by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), while all other pages remained unchanged.
How the Embarrassing Error Unfolded
The mix-up came to light after IUML state president Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal received an unexpected call from a party worker in Kannur. The worker informed Thangal that his article had appeared in the pro-BJP publication. Thangal initially dismissed it as a prank but later confirmed the unusual publication.
Alongside Thangal's piece, contributions by another IUML leader, MK Muneer, were also printed on the page. The editorial page featured a lead article titled 'A left front in cumbles'. It is crucial to note that the error was confined strictly to the editorial page, with the rest of the newspaper containing Janmabhumi's regular content.
Technical Glitch at Shared Printing Press
Local media sources attributed the incident to a technical lapse during the printing stage. Both Janmabhumi and Chandrika are reportedly printed at the same press facility. The mistake affected only the editions distributed in the northern Kerala districts of Kannur and Kasaragod.
The crossover quickly ignited discussions on social media platforms, with many users finding humor in the situation. The amusement stemmed from the stark ideological divide between the BJP and the IUML, which are typically on opposite ends of Kerala's political spectrum.
Political Reactions and Raised Eyebrows
The incident did not go unnoticed by political figures. John Brittas, a CPM MP, took to X (formerly Twitter) to comment, linking the error to ongoing political accusations. He wrote, "While accusations of an unholy alliance between the UDF and BJP continue to swirl, the RSS mouthpiece Janmabhoomi has reproduced the editorial content originally published in Chandrika, the official newspaper of the IUML!"
Adding a layer of political analysis, Kerala Chief Minister’s press secretary, PM Manoj, commented on Facebook. He acknowledged that mistakes can happen when two papers are printed from the same press. However, he pointed out a surprising detail: a careful reading of the Chandrika editorial page published in Janmabhumi did not reveal 'a single line' that questioned or critiqued BJP politics.
Manoj's post further probed, "That leads to an obvious inference: Chandrika’s editorial line is something the BJP can fully accept without discomfort. Isn’t this what people mean when they talk about an underlying convergence or a shared current beneath the surface?"
The event has been widely shared as a rare and ironic moment in Kerala's highly polarised media landscape, providing a brief, unintended bridge between two opposing political narratives.
