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Aiyar’s remarks come amid a storm over his recent praise for Kerala CM Vijayan, including his assertion that the Left leader would continue in office after the upcoming polls.
Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar
Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Monday sparked fresh controversy within the party after launching a blistering attack on senior colleagues, questioning the Congress’s leadership and predicting an electoral setback in Kerala.
Aiyar’s remarks come amid a storm over his recent praise for Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, including his assertion that the Left leader would continue in office after the upcoming Assembly elections.
The Congress swiftly distanced itself from Aiyar’s comments, with party spokesperson Pawan Khera stating that Aiyar no longer represents the party and “speaks purely in a personal capacity”.
Hitting back, Aiyar described Khera as a “puppet” and dismissed his authority within the organisation.
“He is not a party spokesman. If the Congress cannot find anyone other than Pawan Khera to speak for it, the party will remain in the condition it is in,” Aiyar told NDTV, adding that Khera had been targeting him for the past two years.
On the Congress’s prospects in Kerala, Aiyar struck a similar note. “I want the Congress to win, but I don’t believe it will. Congress leaders hate each other more than they hate the Communists,” he said, pointing to what he described as deep internal divisions.
Aiyar also took aim at four-time Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, alleging that the senior leader harbours ambitions of becoming the next foreign minister.
Referring to Tharoor’s positions on foreign policy issues, Aiyar labelled him “anti-Pakistan” and suggested that his political aspirations have put him at odds with the party leadership.
Congress general secretary and communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh was not spared either, with Aiyar remarking that Ramesh was focused on “keeping his job.”
The latest salvo adds to a series of controversial statements by Aiyar, who had earlier embarrassed the party by praising Vijayan at a seminar in Thiruvananthapuram months ahead of the Kerala polls, where the Congress-led UDF is set to take on the ruling Left.
Speaking at the “Vision 2031: Development and Democracy” seminar, Aiyar lauded Kerala’s achievements in decentralised governance and urged Vijayan to carry forward what he said was the Congress’s unfinished legacy in Panchayati Raj.
The Congress leadership responded firmly to the renewed criticism. Khera reiterated on X that Aiyar has had “no connection whatsoever with the Congress for the past few years,” while Ramesh asserted that the electorate would restore the United Democratic Front to power.
“The people of Kerala will bring the UDF back for more responsible and responsive governance. They also know the LDF and BJP are covert partners,” Ramesh said.
With Assembly elections approaching, Aiyar’s remarks have once again exposed fault lines within the Congress, even as the party seeks to project unity and sharpen its attack against the ruling Left in Kerala.
Kerala, India, India
February 16, 2026, 13:23 IST
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