Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar predicted Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayans third term and praised LDFs Panchayati Raj model in a seminar, sparking backlash from party leaders like Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera, who distanced Congress, highlighting a ri
Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar predicted on Sunday that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will secure a third straight term in the upcoming Assembly elections. Aiyar also lauded the ruling LDF governments panchayati raj model.
The Congress, however, distanced itself from the remarks, clarifying they were Aiyars personal views.Speaking at the Vision 2031 International Conference on Democracy and Development in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who he predicted would retain power. Aiyar renewed his call to position Kerala as Indias top Panchayati Raj state. He hailed the states progress, noting the irony: The only state advancing Mahatma Gandhis prescribed model is ruled by Indias Marxist-Leninist party.Aiyar also voiced regret over the absence of his Congress colleagues at the seminar, calling it both a state and national event. I dont know if this is a compliment or an insult, he said, but I regret very much the lack of my party peers here.While Congress refuted his remarks, several senior leaders from the party incluidng Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh, quickly reacted to Aiyars remarks, Mani Shankar Aiyar has had no connection with Congress for years. He speaks purely in a personal capacity, Jairam Ramesh stated, adding that Kerala would oust the Left Front to restore Congress-led UDF rule.While Kerala Chief Minister,Pinarayi Vijayan, welcomed Aiyars remarks. In an X post, he said, “The charismatic words of Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar during the #Vision2031 International Conference resonate well with the contemporary scenario. We stand united in the belief that democracy only flourishes when power resides with the people. We will continue to strengthen our local bodies as the heartbeat of growth.”The charismatic words of Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar during the #Vision2031 International Conference resonate well with the contemporary scenario. We stand united in the belief that democracy only flourishes when power resides with the people. We will continue to strengthen our local… pic.twitter.com/El9wNmULMP— Pinarayi Vijayan February 15, 2026Earlier today, Mani Shankar Aiyar responded to Congress leaders’ remarks. He lashed out at Congress leader Pawan Khera, saying, “Who is going to vote for a party whose leaders are all at each others throats? Do you think the people of Kerala dont know what is happening in the Congress leadership? At least in Pinarayis govt there is discipline. They have no Mani Shankar Aiyar.”“I am Mani Shankar Aiyar because Nehru was a rebel against Gandhi, and Subhas Bose was a rebel against Gandhi. Yet Gandhi made Jawaharlal Nehru the PM of India. If Subhas Bose had survived the aircrash on 17th August 1945, I am certain he would have been the President of India. So, that is how they dealt with dissidence. How does the present Congress deal with it? They put somebody like Pawan Khera as the official spokesman. I have absolutely no respect and complete contempt for Pawan Khera”, he added.While he fired at senior Congress leader Pawan Khera, saying that if Pawan Khera expels me, Ill happily walk out and kick his backside.#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Mani Shankar Aiyar says, ...Who is going to vote for a party whose leaders are all at each others throats? Do you think the people of Kerala dont know what is happening in Congress leadership? At least in Pinarayis govt there is… pic.twitter.com/4BxkqLVi5f— ANI February 16, 2026Mani Shankar Aiyars recent remarks praising Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and predicting his third term have ignited a political firestorm just weeks before the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections.
Pinarayi Vijayan Kerala Assembly Elections 2026 Congress Controversy LDF Government Panchayati Raj Kerala UDF Campaign Jairam Ramesh Reaction Pawan Khera Political Remarks Congress Leader Mani Shankar Aiyar Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan #Pawankhera Kerala Election
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mohun Bagan: প্রেমদিবসে যুবভারতীর কামব্যাক, জয় মোহনবাগান গর্জনেই বোধন আইএসএলের...Mohun Bagan beats Kerala Blasters 2-0 in ISL opener 2025-26
Read more »
Kerala Weather Update: സംസ്ഥാനത്ത് ചൂട് കനക്കുന്നു; രണ്ട് ജില്ലകളിൽ ഓറഞ്ച് അലർട്ട്കേരളത്തിൽ വേനൽച്ചൂട് കനക്കുന്നു
Read more »
Kerala Weather Report: സംസ്ഥാനത്ത് ചൂട് കടുക്കുന്നു; ഇന്നും നാളെയും മഴയ്ക്ക് സാധ്യതയില്ലബുധൻ, വ്യാഴം ദിവസങ്ങളിൽ തെക്കൻ കേരളത്തിൽ വിവിധ ജില്ലകളിൽ ഗ്രീൻ അലർട്ട് പറഞ്ഞിട്ടുണ്ട്
Read more »
Cash for votes? How political parties woo Women as vote jackpot ahead of electionsJust months from polls, Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalins DMK drops Rs 5,000 into 1.31 crore womens accounts, advance aid plus bonus cash, sparking whispers: is this welfare or a vote grab?
Read more »
'पिनराई विजयन बने रहेंगे केरल के मुख्यमंत्री', चुनाव से पहले फूटा मणिशंकर अय्यर का गुस्सा, कांग्रेस ने दी ये सफाईMani Shankar Aiyar News: केरल में अगले कुछ महीनों में विधानसभा चुनाव होने हैं, ऐसे में कांग्रेस राज्य की सत्ता में 10 साल का सूखा समाप्त करने के लिए जोर-शोर से तैयारी कर रही है, लेकिन इस बीच मणिशंकर अय्यर के एक बयान ने पार्टी में हड़कंप मचा दिया है.
Read more »
एमपी विधानसभा बजट सत्र की हंगामेदार शुरुआत: राज्यपाल के अभिभाषण के दौरान विपक्ष का हंगामा, नारेबाजी के बीच ...Madhya Pradesh (MP) Vidhan Sabha Assembly Budget Session 2026 Updates; Follow MP CM Mohan Yadav, BJP Congress MLA, Umang Singhar, Jitu Patwari Latest News On Dainik Bhaskar.
Read more »