Congress distances itself from Mani Shankar Aiyar’s comment backing Pinarayi Vijayan, calls it a personal view, and asserts the UDF will return to power in Kerala.
The Congress on Sunday firmly distanced itself from remarks made by former party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, who expressed confidence that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would “continue in office” after the upcoming Assembly elections.
Clarifying the party’s position, Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said Aiyar has had “no connection whatsoever with the Congress for the past few years” and that his views were entirely personal.
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“Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar speaks and writes purely in his individual capacity,” Khera said in a statement, signalling that the veteran politician’s comments do not reflect the Congress’s stance.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh echoed the clarification while reiterating the party’s optimism about the electoral prospects of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala.
“Let there be no doubt. The people of Kerala will bring the UDF back for more responsible and responsive governance,” Ramesh said on X. He also alleged that the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the BJP were “covert partners,” sharpening the party’s political attack ahead of the polls.
Aiyar’s comments came during an address at an international seminar titled “Vision 2031: Development and Democracy” in Thiruvananthapuram. The event was inaugurated by Chief Minister Vijayan and attended by policymakers and academics.
During his speech, Aiyar praised Kerala’s achievements in strengthening the panchayati raj system, calling the state a leader in decentralised governance. He recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of grassroots democracy and remarked on what he described as the “irony” of Kerala’s progress under a Marxist-led government.
“I do not know whether this is a compliment or an insult, but I deeply regret the absence of my party colleagues on this occasion,” Aiyar said, lamenting the lack of Congress representation at the seminar.
Highlighting Kerala’s standing in local governance, Aiyar said the state “tops the chart in practice” but lags behind Karnataka in terms of legislative backing. He urged amendments to Kerala’s laws to reinforce its leadership in panchayati raj.
Referring to Vijayan, Aiyar said he was “confident” the Chief Minister would continue in office and appealed to him to “pick up the baton that the Congress has dropped.”
The remarks triggered immediate reactions within political circles, with the Congress moving quickly to contain any perception of internal contradiction ahead of the high-stakes Kerala elections.
Chief Minister Vijayan later described Aiyar’s address as “charismatic words that resonate with the present context,” saying the observations reaffirmed his government’s commitment to grassroots democracy.
The episode adds a fresh layer of political debate as Kerala gears up for an intense electoral contest, with the Congress-led UDF seeking to regain power from the ruling LDF.
Published: 15 Feb 2026, 11:36 pm IST
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