BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra was incredibly active on social media on Thursday, spending most of his time acknowledging people’s greetings on his birthday. Those, who wished him on his birthday on Twitter included his party colleagues.
Former India cricketer Chetan Chauhan, who is now a cabinet minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, too extended his birthday greetings to Patra. He wrote, “Greetings to @BJP4India’s National spokesperson Shri @sambitswaraj ji on his Birthday
May god bless you with a long and healthy life.”
Greetings to @BJP4India‘s National spokesperson Shri @sambitswaraj ji on his Birthday
May god bless you with a long and healthy life— Chetan Chauhan (@ChetanChauhanCr) December 13, 2018
But, while acknowledging his birthday wishes, Patra tagged author Chetan Bhagat on Twitter. He wrote, “Thanks Sh @chetan_bhagat Ji”
It took the BJP spokesperson more than two hours to realise his gaffe and delete the tweet. By then, social media users had already begun giving him grief. One user wrote, “Sambit sir !! Looks like you are super excited you thanking different chetan.” Another commented, “I wanted to taunt sambit ji, but its your day.” “Full confusion. Sambit Patra has still not recovered from the BJP setback.”
There were many users, who blamed the BJP’s defeat in assembly elections for the confusion. Patra had actively campaigned for his party in the just-concluded polls, where BJP suffered defeat in three big states such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
Not so long ago, his own party chief, Amit Shah, had forgotten Patra’s name and had addressed him as Sandeep Patra during a press conference.
Here are some more reactions on Twitter:
As per our party routine we have changed the name of @ChetanChauhanCr to @chetan_bhagat.
Recently my name has been changed to sandeep by our party head.
— Sambit Khakhra (@Sambit_Khakhra) December 13, 2018
What a comedy!!!
Sambit becomes Sandeep and takes revenge on Bhagat for Chauhan’s act!
That Nehru!!!— Prabhat MOHANTY (@authorMohanty) December 13, 2018
Sandeep Patra coma me hai abhi harne ke baad. Isliye iss joker ko Chetan Chauhan aur Chetan bhagat me faraq nhin bujha Raha Raha hai.
Amit Shah ka asar hai Sambit se Sandeep ho Gaya hai.??— Talha (@Talha_1595) December 13, 2018