A live discussion on IBC Tamil turned heated on Friday, 14 November 2025, after BJP leader Asuvathaman confronted the channel’s reporter Shankara Sharma over a comment made during the channel’s coverage of the Bihar Assembly election results.
IBC Tamil, one of the several Dravidian-leaning media outlets in the state, was running its analysis as counting trends showed a decisive mandate for the BJP–JDU alliance. During the programme, anchor Shankara Sharma invited BJP’s Asuvathaman to join the discussion. As soon as the interaction began, Sharma remarked: “What sir, it seems like you have stolen a lot of votes and won?”
“Are you running a channel or doing some other business? What kind of language is this?” he asked, interrupting Sharma. “Speak only after you apologise. If you don’t apologise, I will file a case.”
Sharma initially attempted to continue the discussion, saying he was merely referring to the voting trend. But Asuvathaman refused to engage further until the reporter apologised. He reminded Sharma that the channel had reached out repeatedly asking him to participate in the programme.
“It was you who begged me for an hour,” he said. “What language are you using now? Apologise first. If you don’t, things will be different.”
Realising the escalation on air, Sharma withdrew his earlier comment and issued an apology, saying: “I take back what I said, and I apologise.”
சங்கர் சர்மா என்ற உடன்பிறப்பு நெறியாளருக்கு செருப்படி பதில் குடுத்து நேரலையில் மன்னிப்பு கேட்க வைத்தார் அசுவத்தாமன் ஜீ @asuvathaman
அந்த பயம் இருக்கட்டும். pic.twitter.com/jvJAx4c7L3
— Saravanaprasad Balasubramanian (Modi ka Pariwar) (@BS_Prasad) November 14, 2025
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