Mani Shankar Iyer’s ‘Vijayan’ raga creates stir in Congress! Said- ‘Vijayan will remain CM’, party shrugged off: – ..

Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi. Just before the Kerala Assembly elections, senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has dashed the hopes of his own party and given a statement which has created a storm in the political circles. While on one hand the Congress is trying hard to return to power in Kerala, on the other hand, Aiyar has expressed confidence from the public platform that CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan will become the Chief Minister again. Congress has completely distanced itself from this statement and termed Aiyar as a leader speaking in his ‘personal capacity’.

Showered with praise in the presence of Chief Minister Vijayan

This entire incident happened during an international seminar organized on the topic ‘Vision 2031: Development and Democracy’ in Thiruvananthapuram. This conference was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself. Mani Shankar Aiyer, who was the Panchayati Raj Minister in the UPA government, praised the Panchayati Raj model of Kerala. He said that it is ironical that Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of ‘Village Swaraj’ is being implemented in the best possible way by the Marxist-Leninist Party (LDF) in Kerala.

“Vijayan should take over the responsibility left by Congress”

Iyer did not stop here, addressing Vijayan from the stage, saying, “In the presence of the Chief Minister, in whose post I have full confidence, I appeal that necessary legal amendments be made to make Kerala the best Panchayati Raj state in the country.” He further made an emotional appeal and said, “Chief Minister Vijayan, I sincerely request you to take up the responsibility left by the Congress.”

Congress’s sharp counterattack: “We have nothing to do with them”

This statement of Mani Shankar Aiyar has made the Congress high command uncomfortable. On Sunday (February 15), the party officially distanced itself from this statement.

Pawan Kheda’s statement: Congress media department head Pawan Kheda clarified that Mani Shankar Aiyar has no connection with the official policy or decision process of the Congress for the last few years. Whatever he says is his personal opinion.

Jairam Ramesh’s response: Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh wrote on social media (X) that the people of Kerala will bring the United Democratic Front (UDF) back to power this time for accountable governance.

Election mercury high in Kerala

Assembly elections are to be held in Kerala in the coming months. The state usually has a tradition of change of power (UDF vs LDF) every five years, but last time Pinarayi Vijayan broke this tradition and won for the second consecutive time. Now this ‘trust’ of a senior leader like Mani Shankar Aiyar towards Vijayan can become a big problem for the Congress in the electoral field, because BJP and LDF can publicize it as an internal weakness of the Congress.